Lee Hunter
Career Summary
Lee Hunter is a defensive tackle drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2026.
He finished his college career at Texas Tech after earlier stops at Auburn and UCF.
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Early Life
Hunter was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama.
He grew up admiring defensive tackle Derrick Brown, whose Auburn career helped inspire him.
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High School
Hunter attended Blount High School in Mobile.
A two-way player, he earned first-team all-state recognition and Alabama Class 6A lineman of the year honors as a senior in 2020. His defensive coordinator gave him the nickname The Fridge.
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College Career
Hunter began at Auburn before developing into a starter at UCF and Texas Tech.
He redshirted without a game appearance at Auburn in 2021, then transferred to UCF. In his final college season at Texas Tech, he started all 14 games at nose guard and recorded 41 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
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Path to the NFL
Carolina traded up to draft Hunter 49th overall in the second round in 2026.
The selection brought him to a defensive line that included Brown, the player he had admired growing up.
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NFL Career
Hunter signed his four-year rookie contract with Carolina in May 2026.
The Panthers announced the agreement May 15, completing the signing of their draft class.
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Career Accomplishments
Hunter earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.
His final college season also brought second-team Football Writers Association of America All-America recognition. He previously earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024.
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Playing Style
Hunter's college role primarily involved anchoring the interior defensive line at nose guard.
His size and interior experience led Carolina to identify him as a potential contributor on running downs when announcing his rookie signing.
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32440, 00-0041478, 7/2/2002, Lee Hunter, Lee, Hunter
MFT PLAYER RANKINGS
Current player ranking
MFT Score: 0.0
2026 preseason baseline. Position-relative and updated through the site’s weekly review process.