SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 17, 2025

Will Lee III

Texas A&M Aggies

Press Conference

Q. When you matched up against Auburn, talk about the match-up with Cam Coleman?

WILL LEE III: It was a great match-up. He's a great receiver. He was young. I think he was freshman, but we treated him like he's been there all four years.

Like, he's a great receiver. He has great talent and he's got great guys around him.

Just being in that game, knowing what we've got to deal with and knowing what comes with it was a big stepping stone for us, but we were ready for it.

Q. You go up against Ar'maj in practice all the time. What does he bring to the O line? And then what kind of leader is he and presence does he have in your locker room?

WILL LEE III: He brings confidence to the O line. He makes sure all those guys are just one moving train. Nobody's falling off. Nobody's just leaning no different direction. But he makes sure everybody's intact and moving as one sound team.

In the locker room, Ar'maj, he's always a guy that you're going to hear in the locker room. He's always picking guys up, joking around, letting guys know things.

He's a great guy to have on the team. I'm glad he's on our team. He makes sure that everybody's doing good for everybody and stuff like that.

Q. We talked in there and you said the goals is an SEC Championship, national championship. What do you feel is the biggest step that needs to be taken this offseason for you guys to realize those goals?

WILL LEE III: Honestly, just living where our feet are at right now. Work on finishing, four quarters of football, that's the biggest thing we need to focus on.

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.

Q. With (indiscernible), the Auburn game, four overtimes, one of the crazy games of the college season, after seeing them storm the field, how excited are you to get another shot at them this season?

WILL LEE III: I'm excited seeing how it ended me not being able to finish the game because of an injury was real tough. 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.

Q. Where have you seen growth and development in Marcel over the last year or so?

WILL LEE III: Really just this winter and spring, Marcel knows what he needs to do to carry this team and take us where we need to be. And him putting that weight on his shoulders and carrying it positively is amazing to see.

You're seeing him grow up in the locker room every day. He's getting bigger, he's getting stronger. And he's really just taking care of his teammates and making sure everybody understands what we want to do and we're going there.

Q. Last year Coach Elko talked about being able to build a championship mindset. How do you feel like the team has been able to adapt that mentality throughout the offseason?

WILL LEE III: Like I said before, the biggest thing here is us finishing. That's the main thing we need to do. We had everything we needed in our hands right in front of us and all we had to do was finish.

Really just starting off where we left off and then just keep moving everything forward and taking it one day at a time. I feel like we're going to be in good hands.

Q. Do you have a favorite match-up or receiver that in the SEC that when you see that you're up against them that you like that challenge?

WILL LEE III: I wouldn't say I have a favorite match-up. Just anybody that we play on Saturday, I'm ready to go against. They're going to get my best and they're going to get my all. I don't got no favorite match-up. Everybody can get it any day, anytime.

Q. You have as good a home-field advantage as anybody in football. Is there an opposing road site you like to play at?

WILL LEE III: 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.

Q. This year the Southwest Classic will go back to a home-and-home with Arkansas. How do you feel about traveling up at Fayetteville and that game no longer being at AT&T?

WILL LEE III: It's a regular game to me. We'll show up at their place, do what we need to do get the job done.

I'm excited there just to see a different field, seeing a different atmosphere. But it's all the same. We've got to get the job done at the end of the day.

Q. What have you done during the offseason that has prepared you for this upcoming season?

WILL LEE III: Me personally, just really stepping up my leadership role in the locker room and on the field. I want to be that guy in the back end, in the secondary, that my teammates can lean on and trust on.

I'm doing as much as -- 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.

Q. You talked about being excited to go play at Texas this year. Just what did playing in the renewal of the Lone Star Showdown to you last year?

WILL LEE III: Me being from St. Louis, like a lot of people would say, oh, this rivalry doesn't have nothing to do with him really. But like it has a lot to do with my teammates. And I care about my teammates, so it's a big thing for me.

Like, just playing them, I feel like I'm from Texas and that rivalry is as big as any other rivalry for me. I was taking it with a grain of salt, taking it one day at a time to prepare for it. And then when it came I was ready to play.

Q. You'll be going closer to home when you guys go to Missouri. How much are you looking forward to that match-up, and do you think Drinkwitz is going to have a blanket for you this time?

WILL LEE III: I'm excited for that match-up. When I was back at K-State, we played Missouri. We lost to the SEC field goal, the 62-yarder, so I'm 0-1 there. Us going there to play there, I'm real excited. I need one there. I need it bad, so I'm real excited to play there.

Q. How would you describe your team's culture this season, and how do you think that could be one of the keys to success in a very competitive conference?

WILL LEE III: Our culture is really four quarters. Like I've been saying all day, we're really built around finishing this year. We've got everything laid out in front of us of what we need to do. Elko made it real clear on what he wants us to do and wants to take us.

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.

Q. What is a message or piece of advice that a former coach or teammate has given you that sticks with you?

WILL LEE III: Honestly, I would say just take one day at a time. Live where your feet's at. This thing comes fast.

I remember when I was in junior college, I remember when I was just graduating to go to college. Now I'm on my last year. Just really live where your feet's at and take it with a grain of salt.

You've got to enjoy the moments. You've got to enjoy the goods and the bads, just do everything right.

Q. Talk about stepping up your leadership, there's leadership by example and leadership by words. Which way is best for you?

WILL LEE III: 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.

When I'm out there, you're going to see 100 percent from me every time. Honestly just me giving my best works out there on the field, and just you seeing that should make you want to give your best work, knowing I'm willing to put my body on the line for the team and for everybody. I feel like leading by example is my best way of leading.