SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Lee Pitts, who was standout defensive back for the University of Sioux Falls Football Team in 2021, will participate in a rookie mini-camp for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League on May 12-15.

 

Pitts helped lead the Cougars to an NSIC South Division title as part of an 8-3 season the NSIC. He was part of a USF defense that was fifth in the NSIC in total defense and led the lead in scoring defense.

A year ago Pitts started 11 games for USF and had 32 tackles with 28 solo stops. He finished with six passes defended, forced a fumble and returned an interception 57 yards for a TD in a 35-7 win at Southwest Minnesota State on Oct. 9, 2021. He had a season-high eight tackles against Minnesota State.

"I'm extremely excited. This has been a life-long goal of mine and something I have been working towards since I was about 10 years old," said Pitts, who is a Master of Business Administration student and will be the commencement speaker at USF's Graduate School ceremony on May 21. He will represent all of the graduates of the Master of Business Administration, Grad Education and Degree Completion Program at USF.  

Pitts, who transferred to USF from Azusa Pacific in 2021, has 75 career tackles and three interceptions along with 14 pass breakups. He played for Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, Calif., before walking on the program at Arizona, and then moving to Azusa Pacific before finishing his collegiate career at USF.

"Having this opportunity ahead of me is certainly a blessing. For sure, USF was a steppingstone for me to get to where I'm at. USF helped reinforce discipline and hard work in me as an athlete and I'm truly blessed to have had the opportunity to finish my college career there," said Pitts, who is the son of Ron and Babette Pitts.

His father, Ron, played six years as cornerback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers while his grandfather, Elijah Pitts, was an 11-year running back for five NFL championship teams (two Super Bowl titles) in Green Bay.