Texas A&M’s secondary is led by senior cornerback Will Lee III, who, after transferring from Kansas State before the 2024 season, quickly became one of the Aggies’ most dependable defenders, leading the team with nearly double-digit pass deflections, while his touchdown off Texas QB Quinn Ewers last season almost brought the Aggies back before falling 17-7 in Kyle Field.
After announcing his return early in the offseason, coach Mike Elko and his staff knew that with Lee leading the 2025 cornerback room, Texas A&M defense was destined to take the next step in pass coverage, especially with the return of veteran nickel Tyreek Chappell and redshirt sophomore cornerback Dezz Ricks took the next step in his development.
So far, Ricks has performed like one of the best corners in the country. At the same time, Lee’s early-season struggles took a backseat during Saturday’s 16-10 win over the Auburn Tigers, as Lee, nicknamed “The Blanket,” completely shut down Auburn’s star wide receiver Cam Coleman to just four receptions for 18 yards.
Cornerback at this level is one of the toughest positions to play, and Lee has taken it upon himself to improve every week. With the way Ricks and Chappell are playing, Lee’s continued improvement will make Texas A&M’s secondary one of the best in the country.
Standing at 6’1″ and nearly 190 pounds, Lee is the type of boundary cornerback NFL teams are looking for in the 2026 NFL draft. During Tuesday’s player availability, the senior announced that he will forgo his final JUCO-waiver year of collegiate eligibility and declare for next year’s draft.
This isn’t a surprise, considering he nearly declared for the 2025 draft. If the defense continues to play at the elite level we witnessed against Auburn, Lee’s stock will continue to rise. However, the focus is on the 2025 season, so getting this out of the way is a clever tactic.
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