Who was Devonta Lee? Get to know the former LSU football player -

Devonta Lee was an American college football player who represented LSU and Louisiana Tech. A talented wide receiver from Louisiana, he became part of LSU’s 2019 national championship team after earning recognition at Amite High School. His football journey later included a transfer to Louisiana Tech and a widely reported effort to return to the sport following cancer treatment.

Lee died on February 26, 2026, at age 26. His story brought together championship football, close family relationships and a serious illness that interrupted his playing career. Although some online reports contain conflicting personal details, his university biography and published obituary establish his birth date and Louisiana background. Here is a closer look at his life, football achievements and the personal information supported by public records.

Devonta Lee – Quick Bio

Detail	Information
Name	Devonta Lee
Known for	Playing college football for LSU and Louisiana Tech
Date of birth	December 28, 1999
Age at death	26
Date of death	February 26, 2026
Birthplace	Hammond, Louisiana, United States
Hometown	Fluker, Louisiana
Height	6 feet 2 inches, approximately 188 cm
Listed playing weight	215 pounds
High school	Amite High School
Main position	Wide receiver
Major achievement	Member of LSU’s 2019 national championship team
Net worth	Not publicly confirmed

The biographical details above come from his published obituary and official university profiles. Weight refers to his roster listing, rather than a measurement taken later in life.

Early life and Louisiana roots

Devonta Lee was born in Hammond and grew up in Fluker, Louisiana. He attended Amite High School and graduated in 2019. His obituary also identifies him by the nickname “Megatron,” reflecting the name associated with him during his life and football career.

In interviews featured in a 2024 television report, Lee spoke openly about growing up in difficult living conditions. He connected his football ambitions with a desire to help his family. His mother, Lacresia, described a child who loved football and later developed a demanding workout routine, regularly finding time to train even when other players were away.

Those interviews provide a personal view of his early motivation. Football offered Lee a goal to work toward, while his family remained central to the reasons he wanted to succeed.

High school career and early achievements

At Amite High School, Lee established himself as a leading football prospect. LSU’s official biography describes him as a consensus four-star recruit. Rivals ranked him sixth among Louisiana recruits and 12th nationally at his position, placing him among the state’s highly regarded players entering college.

He contributed on both sides of the ball. During his senior season, he caught 42 passes and scored 22 total touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 55 tackles and seven interceptions. These were separate contributions: the university biography lists 22 overall touchdowns, rather than identifying all of them as receiving scores.

Lee also helped Amite win the 2018 Louisiana Class 2A state championship, catching three passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in the title game. He subsequently participated in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game. His high school coach was Zephaniah Powell.

Devonta Lee’s age, birthday and height

Lee was 26 when he died. Louisiana Tech’s official biography gives his birthday as December 28, 1999, while his obituary records the same birth date and a death date of February 26, 2026. Together, those records provide a consistent basis for calculating his age.

His height was listed as 6 feet 2 inches, equivalent to approximately 188 centimetres. Louisiana Tech’s 2024 roster also listed him at 215 pounds and identified him as a redshirt senior wearing number eight. These are historical playing details from his college profile.

Some early coverage reported that Lee was 27. However, the matching birth dates in his university biography and obituary support age 26. Using those records avoids carrying the conflicting age into his biography.

LSU career and a national championship

Lee joined LSU in 2019 and immediately became part of a championship season. He appeared in 13 games as a freshman, contributing at wide receiver and on special teams. His receiving totals were two catches for 27 yards. LSU finished that season undefeated and defeated Clemson to win the national championship.

His role changed during his time with the Tigers. In 2020, he appeared in eight games, mainly on special teams. LSU also documented his experience at linebacker before his return to the offensive side in 2021.

One of his clearest individual highlights came against Central Michigan on September 18, 2021. Quarterback Max Johnson found Lee for a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter of LSU’s 49–21 victory. The score completed a nine-play, 93-yard drive and marked Lee’s first career touchdown reception.

Lee finished that game with five receptions for 47 yards. Across the 2021 season, he recorded nine catches for 85 yards and one touchdown. His LSU career receiving totals reached 11 catches for 112 yards, with appearances across three seasons.

Louisiana Tech, cancer treatment and his return effort

After three seasons at LSU, Lee transferred to Louisiana Tech in 2022. In a later interview, he described feeling welcomed by the programme. His mother explained that leaving LSU had been a difficult decision for him and his family, but they supported his choice to pursue another opportunity.

His plans changed after he began experiencing severe back pain during workouts. Doctors diagnosed him with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Reporting on his treatment documented two surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, followed by a period when he was described as cancer-free.

By February 2024, Lee was back in Ruston working toward a football return. Head coach Sonny Cumbie spoke about his positive attitude and the energy he brought to players and coaches. Lee also expressed his determination to get back onto the field.

Louisiana Tech’s official biography records no game action in 2023 or 2024, distinguishing his comeback effort from competitive appearances. Following his death in February 2026, both Louisiana Tech and LSU publicly offered condolences to his family and teammates.

Family and relationships

Family was a recurring subject in Lee’s interviews. His mother spoke publicly about his commitment to football, the difficulty of his diagnosis and her support during recovery. In coverage following his death, she remembered him as generous, hardworking and deeply dedicated to the sport.

Louisiana Tech’s player biography lists nine siblings and names Lacresia, David, Stephanie and Mike under his parents. It also records interdisciplinary studies as his academic major. The university profile provides these details without explaining every family relationship, so they should not be expanded through assumptions.

Lee’s romantic relationship status is Not publicly confirmed in the reliable sources reviewed for this article. There is no verified basis here for naming a wife or girlfriend, or making claims about children.

Net worth and social media

Devonta Lee’s net worth is Not publicly confirmed. The sources reviewed do not establish his assets, earnings or endorsement income. His college football profile therefore does not support a specific financial estimate, and assigning him a dollar figure would be speculation.

For social media, his recruiting profile identifies Instagram @devonta_lee and X @DevontaleeLee. Searchable platform pages also match those names. These accounts offer a documented connection to his public sporting identity, although the reviewed sources do not establish who manages them following his death.

His university biographies remain the stronger sources for physical measurements, education and playing history. Social profiles should not be used to fill gaps in his financial or relationship information.

Conclusion

Devonta Lee’s documented achievements include a Louisiana high school state championship, selection for an All-America game and membership of LSU’s national championship team. His later years also included cancer treatment and an effort to resume football at Louisiana Tech. The tributes from both college programmes acknowledged his place in their communities, while his family’s interviews preserved a more personal account of his dedication and character.

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