Ricky Lee (American football)

Ricky Lee
Arlington Renegades
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-11-16) November 16, 1999 (age 25)
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)
College:North Carolina Central (2018–2020)
North Carolina A&T (2021–2022)
Undrafted:2023
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics
Games played:6
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ricky Lee III (born June 11, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Central Eagles before transferring to the North Carolina A&T Aggies. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina 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

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 5+1⁄8 in
(1.96 m) 		289 lb
(131 kg) 		34+5⁄8 in
(0.88 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 5.42 s 1.77 s 3.13 s 4.96 s 25.0 in
(0.64 m)		 7 ft 10 in
(2.39 m)
[6]

Carolina Panthers

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.[7][8][9] 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.[10][11][12] He appeared in a total of six games in the 2024 season, being used exclusively on specials teams while seeing action on 24 snaps.[13]

On August 27, 2024, Lee was waived by the Panthers.[14]

Minnesota Vikings

On August 29, 2024, Lee signed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.[15] He was released on September 17.[16]

Cleveland Browns

On September 25, 2024, Lee was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[17] He was released on October 8.[18]

New York Giants

On December 23, 2024, Lee was signed to the New York Giants practice squad.[19]

Arlington Renegades

On January 14, 2025, Lee signed with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL).[20]

References

  1. ^ "Ricky Lee (OT)". ESPN.com.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Ricky Lee III College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Hill, Jalon (May 30, 2023). "Former NCCU/NC A&T tackle Ricky Lee signs with Panthers". QCityMetro.
  8. ^ Hawkins, Jeff (May 13, 2023). "Panthers UDFA Ricky Lee 'blessed' to represent HBCUs". The Charlotte Post.
  9. ^ Gantt, Darin (April 29, 2023). "Panthers agree to terms with undrafted rookies". Carolina Panthers.
  10. ^ Callahan, Schuyler (August 30, 2023). "Why Two Undrafted Rookies Made the Panthers' Roster". Sports Illustrated.
  11. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 29, 2023). "Panthers get to 53-man roster with three more moves". Carolina Panthers.
  12. ^ Becton, Stan (August 29, 2023). "Every FCS and HBCU player on the initial 53-man 2023 NFL rosters". National Collegiate Athletic Association.
  13. ^ "Ricky Lee Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  14. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 27, 2024). "Panthers make moves to get to initial 53-man roster". Panthers.com.
  15. ^ "Vikings Sign T Ricky Lee & RB Zavier Scott to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. August 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Peters, Craig. "Vikings Sign Tackle Marcellus Johnson to Practice Squad". vikings.com. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "Browns sign T Germain Ifedi to active roster, place G Wyatt Teller on injured reserve". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Browns waive Javion Cohen, Sam Kamara and Blake Whiteheart". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "Giants Add OT Ricky Lee to Practice Squad". SI.com. December 23, 2024.
  20. ^ "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.