Ricky Lee
No. 61 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-06-11) June 11, 1999
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:289 lb (131 kg)
Career information
High school:Robert E. Lee
(Jacksonville, Florida)
College:North Carolina Central (2018–2020)
North Carolina A&T (2021–2022)
Undrafted:2023
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2023
Games played:6
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Ricky Lee III (born June 11, 1999) is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina Central before transferring to North Carolina A&T. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Panthers after the 2023 NFL Draft.

Early life and education

Lee was born on June 11, 1999, and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida.[1][2] He attended Robert E. Lee High School—now Riverside High School–in his hometown, playing football and basketball; he was a first-team all-district selection at offensive tackle in football.[2] He began his college football career with the North Carolina Central Eagles, starting all 11 games as a freshman and remained a starter as a sophomore in 2019.[3] Lee transferred to rival North Carolina A&T after the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

In Lee's first season at North Carolina A&T, he started all 11 games and had the second-most snaps played among their offensive linemen with 648.[5] He remained a starter for his senior season in 2022 and was named second-team All-Big South Conference.[4]

Professional career

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Lee was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, being one of the few players from a historically black college (HBCU) around the league and the only one on the Panthers.[6][7][8] He made the team's final roster, being one of only two of the team's undrafted rookies to make the squad as well as one of only 20 HBCU players to make their team's initial roster.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ↑ "Ricky Lee (OT)". ESPN.com.
  2. 1 2 "Ricky Lee III". North Carolina A&T Aggies.
  3. ↑ Horton, David (October 3, 2022). "N.C. A&T Aggie football's Senior Spotlight with Ricky Lee III". 247Sports.
  4. 1 2 Stamps, Brayden (August 30, 2023). "Undrafted rookie from North Carolina A&T State University makes Carolina Panthers roster". WGHP.
  5. ↑ Horton, David (August 29, 2023). "Aggies in the NFL: Former N.C. A&T OL Ricky Lee makes it official with the Carolina Panthers". 247Sports.
  6. ↑ Hill, Jalon (May 30, 2023). "Former NCCU/NC A&T tackle Ricky Lee signs with Panthers". QCityMetro.
  7. ↑ Hawkins, Jeff (May 13, 2023). "Panthers UDFA Ricky Lee 'blessed' to represent HBCUs". The Charlotte Post.
  8. ↑ Gantt, Darin (April 29, 2023). "Panthers agree to terms with undrafted rookies". Carolina Panthers.
  9. ↑ Callahan, Schuyler (August 30, 2023). "Why Two Undrafted Rookies Made the Panthers' Roster". Sports Illustrated.
  10. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 29, 2023). "Panthers get to 53-man roster with three more moves". Carolina Panthers.
  11. ↑ Becton, Stan (August 29, 2023). "Every FCS and HBCU player on the initial 53-man 2023 NFL rosters". National Collegiate Athletic Association.
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