Auburn transfer cornerback Kayin Lee committed to Tennessee football Wednesday evening while on a visit with the Vols, Volquest’s Austin Price first reported. Lee brings two year of SEC starting experience to Tennessee.
Lee also took visits Ole Miss and Ohio State before his trip to Tennessee. Missouri and Texas A&M also expressed interest before the Auburn cornerback officially committed to Josh Heupel and his staff.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback has played 1,560 total snaps in his three seasons at Auburn while starting 24 games over the last two years. Lee totaled 31 tackles, four pass deflections and one interception during the 2025 season. As a sophomore, Lee totaled 32 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass deflections.
Lee was a key part of an Auburn defense that was one of the SEC’s best last season. Opponents targeted Lee 41 times, completing 21 passes for 251 yards and no touchdowns last season. In 2024, opponent targeted Lee 49 times and completed 23 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown.
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According to PFF, Lee’s best season was his sophomore season when he earned a 69.4 grade. He earned a similar 67.4 grade for his play during the 2025 season.
An Ellenwood, Georgia native, Lee ranks as a three-star transfer and the No. 153 player in the portal according to 247sports. He also ranks as the No. 8 cornerback in the portal.
Tennessee badly needed to land a cornerback in the transfer portal. The Vols lost both Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood to the NFL Draft last month while Rickey Gibson entered the transfer portal when it officially opened late last week.
Lee will come in and start across from Ty Redmond, who earned All-SEC honors for his play as a true freshman last season. Tennessee could still look to add depth pieces at cornerback in the transfer portal. The Vols have no corners with meaningful experience behind Redmond and Lee as rising redshirt freshman Tre Poteat is next up on the offseason depth chart.
Lee is the third player to commit to Tennessee football out of the transfer portal to date, joining Kansas State nickel Qua Moss and LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams.
