Post-OSU Update: Darron Lee surrendered eligibility to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Lee was selected 20th overall (1st round) by the New York Jets. He played and started three years for the Jets before moving on to Kansas City in 2019 and closing out his NFL career with Buffalo in 2020. He ended his NFL career with 273 tackles, three interceptions, and four sacks. (updated: Dec. 2023)

Major: Consumer and Family Financial Services (2015), Undeclared (2014)

Weight: 235 (2015), 225 (2014), 205 (2013)

2015 Media Guide: Darron Lee, a third-year Buckeye who is a sophomore in eligibility, is an outstanding football player and a gifted athlete who made noise with his play as a freshman last year and who is expected to be even noisier in 2015 … his talents have earned him 2015 preseason All-America honors
by the publication Phil Steele; this after he earned freshman All-America accolades last season … Lee was a 15-game starter as a freshman who quickly established himself as a force at linebacker with a 61-yard fumble return for a score in his first game and he continued making big plays the entire season,
including a second fumble return for a score, a 33-yarder in the regular season finale vs. Michigan … recruited out of the Columbus suburb of New Albany as a 205-pound “athlete,” Lee will line up at Ohio State’s “will” linebacker position this season as a 235-pounder with an impressive reputation as a play-maker.

2014: Lee started all 15 games as a freshman for the College Football Playoff national champions and was named a freshman All-American by USA Today, Athlon’s, Phil Steele and Scout.com … he first turned heads with his play during spring drills after he had red-shirted the 2013 season as a true freshman … then he made seven tackles in his first game as a Buckeye, including two tackles-for-loss, against a tricky Navy offense and made the play of the game with his recovery of a fumble and 61-yard touchdown return … he kept making plays all season and finished third on the team in tackles with 81 and second in both tackles-for-loss (16.5 for -70 yards) and quarterback sacks (7.5) … he also had two interceptions – vs. Maryland and Illinois – to go along with three pass break-ups, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and the two recovered fumbles, both of which went for touchdowns … Lee
ranked seventh in the Big Ten in TFLs and 12th in sacks … he had at least seven tackles in seven games, including in five of the last six with a career best nine vs. Michigan to go along with a 33-yard fumble return touchdown that essentially clinched the win … he also had eight tackles and a PBU vs. Oregon in the national title game and seven tackles vs. both Wisconsin and Alabama … all seven of his stops vs. the Crimson Tide were solo tackles and they included three TFLs for minus-11 yards with two of those quarterback sacks … he was named Defensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl after that effort … also had multiple TFL games vs. Penn State and Michigan.

2014 Media Guide: Darron Lee had a quiet 2013 campaign, playing just six plays in two games (San Diego State and Florida A&M) before an injury ended his true freshman campaign as a Buckeye, but then he had a rather noisy 2014 spring drills … this former high school quarterback was talked about often by Ohio State coaches during spring ball as he displayed speed and consistent play-making ability at the strong-side linebacker position … he is a young player to watch in this program.

High School: Local prospect Darron Lee is fine athlete who played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and returned punts and kickoffs as a junior for the New Albany Eagles and he played primarily in the
secondary and at quarterback as a senior … Lee was named a first-team Associated Press Division II all-state cornerback as a senior after recording five interceptions with three punt return touchdowns, and accounting for over 1,700 yards of offense and 21 touchdowns … he helped New Albany, coached by Mark Mueller, advance to the Division II state semifinals and to a 11-3 record as a senior … Lee did it all in a third-round win over Marion-Franklin, throwing for two touchdowns, rushing for a 36-yard score, returning a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and making the game-clinching interception in the final minute … team was 9-3 and a state qualifier in 2011 … Lee is considered a four-star prospect (Scout) and the No. 29 safety prospect by Scout … ESPN ranks him the No. 28 prospect overall in the state of Ohio.

Personal: Originally from Chattanooga, Tenn., Lee moved to Ohio as an eighth grader … Mom, Candice, is a news anchor for WCMH Ch. 4, the local NBC affiliate.