Football | 10/27/2016 1:04:00 PM
Moon Township, Pa. – Oct. 27, 2016 – At 6'2", 200 pounds,
Gee Stanley won't be mistaken for the hulking outside linebackers who dominate the NFL.
And he is fine with it.
"That's because I have a lion heart," said Stanley, a true freshman out of Coral Gables (Fla.) High School. "I'm undersized, but I use my technique. To me, I can be the smallest on the field and I still believe that I can beat you all the time. I don't think I can ever be beat. That's just the way I am."
Utilizing speed, instincts and, without question, that lion heart, Stanley is giant-like in getting to opposing quarterbacks for
Robert Morris University.
He is the national leader among NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) freshmen with seven and-a-half sacks. That total also ranks ninth overall.
Stanley has registered three multiple-sack games this season, including two for minus-13 yards in his collegiate debut against Alderson Broaddus. He added two more in Week 2 versus Dayton and two and-a-half, Oct. 8, against Saint Francis U.
With three regular-season games remaining, Stanley is tied for fifth on the school's single-season sack chart. The record of 11, set in 1997 by Jason Spencer, is within reach.
"Gee's a very laid-back kid, but he can flip the switch," RMU defensive coordinator
Scott Farison said. "He's about as quick as any linebacker that's played for us."
Stanley is tough, too. He developed this trait while growing up in a single-parent home with older siblings, brother Tarver, 26, and sister Jazzm, 24. His mother, Maria, provided for her children while working as an office manager in Miami. Her diligence and devotion had a profound impact on her youngest child.
"She's a very strong woman," said Stanley, who leads the Colonials in tackles for loss (9) while ranking fourth with 48 tackles overall. "She played the mother and father figure in our home. We've had ups and downs in life, but she always took care of us. She found the positive in things. That meant everything to me."
In some ways, having Stanley on the roster was serendipitous for the RMU football program. He originally committed to NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member Temple, but, according to Stanley, his SAT scores were not available on national signing day. Consequently, he lost his scholarship and was forced to re-open his recruitment.
Robert Morris, which has 11 Florida players on its roster, quickly captured his attention. He signed once the test scores arrived.
"Robert Morris showed me a lot of love all the way through the recruiting process," Stanley said. "I really liked the coaches and the players when I came on a visit and I said, 'This is going to be my new home.'"
Stanley felt at home against Dayton in his second career game. He sacked quarterback Alex Jeske twice for minus-21 yards in the opening quarter, including a big stop on third down. The performance left an indelible impression on the coaching staff.
"He's got a real knack for getting to the quarterback," Farison said. "In our 3-4 scheme, he gets the opportunity to rush a lot more than linebackers (in a 4-3 deployment). So far, he's taking advantage of it."
Stanley fancies himself as a master of deception, of sorts. On blitz calls, he slides outside farther than usual to appear as if he's dropping into pass coverage. Then, using his impeccable sense of timing, he sprints to the line of scrimmage and takes off once the ball is snapped.
That usually leads to a sack, and to his accompanying celebration. Stanley swipes his feet and gives a kick like Dante Fowler Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"In getting to the quarterback, I like to listen to his cadence, because that's when I creep up to the line of scrimmage," Stanley said. "Then, I try to get into a position where the offensive linemen can't see me. From there, I just take off and try to get another sack."
If Stanley keeps up the pace, he could own the school career sack mark of 26.5, set by Nolan Nearhoof from 2009-2012. But to his credit, he's not focusing on personal goals.
"I'm trying to help us win games, that's what I want for this team," he said. "I don't really think about the other stuff. It's about making plays for the team."
