Get to Know Your Orange Man: #21, LB Lee Kpogba

Editor’s Note: Kpogba is still a member of the Syracuse Orange

Name: Lee Kpogba

Position: Linebacker

Year: Sophomore

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 224 lbs

Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.

High School: Parkland

2020 stats: Kpogba was one of the mainstays for the Orange in 2020, appearing in every game on special teams and as a rotational linebacker. He would finish the season with 43 tackles across special teams/defense, and also had a sack. He had a career high 8 tackles in the season finale against Notre Dame.

2021 projections: Kpogba and the Syracuse Orange are in a bit of an awkward spot. As of today, Kpogba is indefinitely suspended by the team for reasons not made public, and though he is not in the transfer portal, he has visited Ole Miss. To date, the only definitive steps towards the linebacker leaving are a visit to Ole Miss (mentioned in the previous link), but no announcements or formal exists have been made as the linebacker is still on the SU Roster. All of that is to set the table for my bold prediction: I have no idea. Kpogba has work to do to earn the trust of the coaching staff, and if he chooses to stay and does, he could very well be an impact player.

How’d he get here?: At first, Lee picked West Virginia over offers from the likes of Florida State, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and plenty of others. But after he decommitted from the ‘Eers, it wasn’t long before he was headed to Syracuse.

What’d recruiting sites say?: Four stars from Rivals, while 247 and ESPN didn’t believe to the same extent, giving him three.

Money quote: While it wasn’t Kpogba called out individually, Babers did have words of encouragement for the young core thrust into starting action against Wake Forest this past season:

“They’re going to get older and they’re going to get bigger and they’re going to get better,” Babers said. “And I’m going to have to take all these lumps until they do. But they’re coming to a theater near you when they’re going to be older, and they’re going to be better.”

Twitter feed: @kashhh_2timezz

Tweets of wonder: This probably explains the Ole Miss visits.

What movie would Dino recommend for him?: We’ve got some real Longest Yard recruiting vibes here, where Kpogba and the coaching staff are a bit at odds, but both deep down want and need each other. Here’s hoping that after all this cool down time, the two sides can mend the bridge and be on the same team for 2021.

Interesting nugget o’interest: Kpogba was born in Ghana, adding to the Orange’s off-shore roots on the current roster.

Let’s get a look at ya: Here are some 2020 highlights via Kpogba himself!