Devonta Lee, a former wide receiver for LSU and Louisiana Tech, died after a battle with cancer.
He was 26, according to NOLA.com.
Lee played three seasons with the Tigers — winning a national championship in 2019 — and transferred to Louisiana Tech in 2022.
Lacresia Brown, Lee’s mother, told KTVE that he was a “fighter” and “loved by everybody.”
“[Lee] was a good kid [and would] do anything for anybody,” she told the outlet. “He loved football [and] he gave his all in anything he did. He worked out every day [and was] a very hard, dedicated player [who] never gave up in football. [I will miss] my son.”
Lee recorded 11 catches for 112 yards and one touchdown across his three seasons in Baton Rouge.
During his time at Louisiana Tech, he had two catches for 17 yards.
“The LSU Football family mourns the loss of former Tiger, Devonta Lee,” LSU said in a post on X. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates.”
Louisiana Tech said in a tribute of their own that it was “saddened” by the news.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time. He will always be remembered as a member of the Bulldog family,” the post read.
Lee began experiencing severe back pain months after transferring and he was later diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
He went through two surgeries, 10 weeks off chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiation treatment, and after a year of treatment, he was pronounced cancer-free.
He returned to play football at Louisiana Tech in 2024, but according to the team’s website, he did not see any game action and was listed as a redshirt senior.
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie described Lee as having a “fighter’s spirit.”
“He fights. He’s beaten extreme odds before, this would not surprise me one bit,” Cumbie told Fox 8. “The road is very long in terms of recovery, in terms of getting his body ready to play college football, the wear and tear and grind on his body.
“If anyone is going to be able to do it, it’s D-Lee.”
