Isaiah Lee stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State senior defensive tackle Isaiah Lee received a significant honor on Wednesday.
The Chicago native will wear No. 58 on the field this season in honor of former Iowa State defensive line coach and Pitt star defender Curtis Bray, who passed away in 2014 from a pulmonary embolism while he was on the Iowa State staff.
The tribute to Bray, started by the program in 2014, has led some of Iowa State’s best defensive linemen in the last eight seasons to wear the number, including Corey Morrissey, Mitchell Meyers, J.D. Waggoner, Spencer Benton, Ray Lima, Enyi Uwazurike and now Lee.
“It’s an absolute honor to be awarded the opportunity to wear #58 in honor of Coach Bray,” Lee said in an Iowa State release. “This is an honor that means a lot to the defensive line room in our program and I am extremely proud to be awarded the number this fall.”
Lee has tallied 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his Iowa State career that spans 26 games across four seasons. He is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and was named honorable mention All-Big 12 for his efforts on the field last season.
For the first time this year, the Curtis Bray Memorial Scholarship will be given in Lee’s name to one student on campus. Breana Strelnieks, a student in the Ivy College of Business, will be this year’s recipient.
“The Bray family is incredibly grateful to Iowa State University for establishing the Curtis Bray Memorial Scholarship to provide financial support to undergraduate students,” Curtis’ brother, Chuck Bray, said in the release. “We thank all members of the Cyclone community who continue to contribute to the scholarship’s success, including those who contribute financially to the scholarship. This incredible community includes Coach Campbell and the entire coaching staff and trainers, the athletics department, the administration, fans and most importantly the players. Wearing the No. 58 has become an honor representing the very best traditions of ISU football and we are thrilled that a scholarship will annually be provided to an ISU student as further tribute to Coach Curtis Bray and the many incredible ISU athletes who have worn the No. 58 jersey, those who wear the uniform, and all of those who exemplify ISU values.”
