Lee Ready to Set the Tone For A&M's Defense

ATLANTA — Like many of his teammates, Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee does not like talking about the end of the 2024 season. But the lessons learned during the 1-4 slide are dictating the team’s approach to 2025.

“Work on finishing, four quarters of football, that’s the biggest thing we need to focus on,” Lee said at SEC Media Days. “Last year, our season was in our hands to go to the SEC Championship, in our hands to go to the playoffs. We just couldn’t finish. The main goal right now is to finish and play four quarters worth of football.”

Lee, who was selected as a second-team Preseason All-SEC corner by the media, said the idea of learning to finish started at the top.

“We’re really built around finishing this year. We’ve got everything laid out in front of us of what we need to do. (Coach Mike) Elko made it real clear on what he wants us to do and wants to take us,” he said. “We’ve just got to trust in his plan and just do the best we can do and then get there. Like, it’s going to be bumps in the road. It’s always going to be like that. But we just have to lock in to little key details and do what we need to do and we’ll be okay.”

Lee said he has pushed himself to become a bigger leader this season, something that he has not always been comfortable with.

“I feel like I’m more of a leadership-by-example guy. I’m not that type of guy that’s going to be in the locker room and talk your ear off before the game. I want you to be comfortable and be in your own mind and get ready your own way,” he said. “When I’m out there, you’re going to see 100% from me every time.”

In spite of his efforts, Lee couldn’t finish the overtime loss at Auburn after he injured his ribs early in the game. The return visit by the Tigers is one Lee has circled on his calendar.

“Seeing how it ended me not being able to finish the game because of an injury was real tough,” he said. “Watching my teammates go out there and battle for me and battle for our team to try to pull it through and it fell short was real tough to see. I’m waiting for that game and I’m real excited.”

The St. Louis native is also excited to have the chance to return to Columbia, Mo., to play the University of Missouri. The Aggies won handily when they played there in 2021, but Lee has yet to experience that result. 

“I’m excited for that match-up. When I was back at K-State, we played Missouri. We lost on a last-second field goal, the 62-yarder, so I’m 0-1 there. Us going there to play there, I’m real excited,” he said. “I need one there. I need it bad, so I’m real excited to play there.”

Lee said being from St. Louis meant he wasn’t fully aware of what made the A&M-Texas rivalry tick, but knew it was important to his teammates. Lee scored A&M’s only touchdown in last year’s game on a 97-yard interception return, and says he now fully understands the magnitude of the Lone Star Showdown.

“I can’t wait to play at Texas. Me being at K-State, losing there in overtime and just getting back there and just beating them at their home was going to be the best thing to me. That’s real exciting for me,” he said.

Last year, Lee established himself as one of the top corners in the SEC with 42 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 10 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a pair of interceptions. But corners on the other side struggled, with Dezz Ricks and Jayvon Thomas taking much of the abuse. This year, however, Lee is confident that Texas A&M has found a player capable of stepping things up a notch.

“Julian Humphrey,” he said when asked if there was another “Blanket” in the secondary. “We’re gonna keep the field warm.”

For Lee, SEC Media Days was a chance to talk a good game. Now, he’s focusing on playing one, at as high a level as last year or better.

“I want to be that guy in the back end, in the secondary, that my teammates can lean on and trust on,” he said. “I’m doing as much as (I can) —  a little more studying, a little more lifting weights, everything I can do to help my team out. I want to be that guy they can lean on and know that I’m going to get the job done when we need it.”