A junior college All-American who worked his way up through Kansas State to a second-team All-SEC season at Texas A&M, Will Lee III was Carolina's fourth-round pick in 2026.
Will Lee III's path to the NFL started at the junior college level and ran through two Big 12 and SEC programs before he landed with the Panthers as a fourth-round pick. His ball production and cover instincts made him one of the more sought-after transfer cornerbacks in the country by the time he arrived in College Station.
Path to the league
Lee grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri, and starred at Kirkwood High School before starting his college career at Iowa Western Community College, where he redshirted before earning NJCAA First Team All-American honors in 2022. He transferred to Kansas State for the 2023 season, then moved again to Texas A&M for his final two years of eligibility. Carolina drafted him in the fourth round, 129th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Across his college career, Lee accumulated 134 total tackles, 24 pass deflections, four interceptions, one sack and two forced fumbles. His first season at Texas A&M in 2024 was his best, when he ranked fifth in the SEC with 10 pass breakups, intercepted two passes including a pick-six, and earned second-team All-SEC honors.
2025 season recap
In his final college season at Texas A&M in 2025, Lee recorded 50 tackles, 39 of them solo, to go with eight pass breakups as he anchored the Aggies' secondary. That follow-up campaign confirmed his second-round draft helper tape from 2024 and helped him land in the fourth round with Carolina in the 2026 draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Will Lee III
- 247Sports: Texas A&M CB Will Lee III goes in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- Texas A&M
- Hometown
- St. Louis, MO, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
