Seeing The Light: A rash of injuries tested his resolve. But a full-strength E.J. Lightsey is finally flashing the talent he always knew he had.
Inside The Chart | By Andy Demetra (The Voice of the Yellow Jackets)
The smile on E.J. Lightsey’s face is broad, pearly and completely at odds with the malice he inflicts as a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker.
It’s also completely understandable these days.
“I know that everybody’s story is different. Everybody is on their own time,” the redshirt junior said.
Maybe this was his destiny all along. Fully healthy, enjoying a career year, contributing to an undefeated record and Georgia Tech’s highest national ranking since 2014. Not the destiny that seemed inescapable for most of his career, when one injury after another tested his patience and left his potential untapped.
Instead, the Fitzgerald, Ga., native has helped power Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0 ACC) to the top of the ACC standings and back into the national spotlight. No Yellow Jacket player takes that rise for granted. Perhaps none more than Lightsey, as that incandescent smile shows.
“To finally be getting that time back and show what I can do and reach my full potential, it’s been great for me,” he said.
Through five games, Lightsey’s 25 tackles rank second on the team behind fellow linebacker Kyle Efford. That already equals the number of tackles he had in his first three seasons combined. He recorded a season-best 10 in the Jackets’ win over No. 12 Clemson at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.
“Each game, you see it’s coming along. It’s clicking for him. I’m proud of him – but I’m pushing him every day,” said Georgia Tech linebackers coach Darius Eubanks.
“It felt great knowing I played a big part in that victory,” Lightsey said of his performance against Clemson.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been waiting on it, and I finally had the chance.”