Lee redshirted as a freshman at Tulane in 2013. In 2014, he became the starter. On August 28, 2014, Lee recorded 262 yards and three touchdowns in his college debut against Tulsa.[2] On September 13, he tossed three touchdowns and recorded 238 yards against Southeastern Louisiana.[3] On November 8, he gained 237 yards and scored three times against Houston.[4] Lee started all 10 of his games, throwing for 1,962 yards and 12 touchdowns which set Tulane freshman records.[5]
2015 season
On September 3, 2015, Lee recorded 246 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Duke.[6] On September 19, he recorded a season-high 277 yards and a touchdown against Maine.[7] On October 3, Lee threw a career-high four touchdowns against UCF.[8] On November 14, he recorded 252 yards and two touchdowns against Army.[9] He started all 9 of his games in 2015, throwing for 1,639 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.[10]
2017 season
On January 30, 2016, Lee announced that he was transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He sat out the 2016 season per NCAA transfer rules.[11] On April 19, 2017, Lee was named the starting quarterback for the 2017 season.[12] On September 2, 2017, Lee recorded 238 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opener against Arkansas State.[13] The next week, he threw a season-high three touchdowns against Oregon.[14] On September 16, Lee ran in two scores against Northern Illinois, the first time ever doing so in college.[15] On September 29, he threw three touchdowns against Illinois.[16] On October 14, Lee recorded 303 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio State.[17] On November 28, he threw two touchdowns and gained a career-high 431 yards against Purdue.[18] On November 18, Lee recorded 399 yards and three touchdowns against Penn State.[19] Lee finished his 2017 season recording 3,143 yards, 23 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, two rushing scores, and compiling a 4–8 record as Nebraska's starter.[20]
On December 28, 2017, Lee announced that he would enter the 2018 NFL draft.[21]
Lee was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round (203rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.[24] On May 10, he signed his rookie contract.[25] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[26][27] He was promoted to the active roster on December 28, 2018.[28] On August 17, 2019, Lee was waived by the Jaguars.[29]
^"Tanner Lee". www.sports-reference.com. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.