Richard LeCounte

Richard LeCounte
LeCounte at Liberty County High School in 2016
Profile
PositionSafety
Personal information
Born (1998-09-11) September 11, 1998 (age 28)
Riceboro, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight
196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High schoolLiberty County (Hinesville, Georgia)
CollegeGeorgia (2017–2020)
NFL draft2021: 5th round, 169th overall pick
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Richard Lee LeCounte III (born September 11, 1998) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Early life

LeCounte attended Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Georgia. As a senior, he was named the 2016 Savannah Morning News Male Athlete of the Year and Football Defensive Player of the Year. LeCounte played in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. A five star recruit, he committed to the University of Georgia to play college football. LeCounte was the very first recruit to commit to Kirby Smart after Smart took the job as the head coach of his alma mater.

College career

As a true freshman at Georgia in 2017, LeCounte played in 10 games and had 15 tackles. As a sophomore in 2018, he started 13 of 14 games and led the team with 74 tackles and one interception. As a junior in 2019, LeCounte started all 14 and had 61 tackles and four interceptions. He returned to Georgia for his senior year in 2020, rather than enter the 2020 NFL draft.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
5 ft 10+1⁄2 in
(1.79 m)		196 lb
(89 kg)		31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		4.79 s1.69 s2.81 s4.49 s7.44 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)
All values from Pro Day

Cleveland Browns

On May 1, 2021, LeCounte was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 169th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.

On October 3, 2022, LeCounte was waived by the Browns and re-signed to the practice squad. He was released on October 19.

Los Angeles Rams

On December 14, 2022, LeCounte signed with the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams. He signed a reserve/futures contract on January 9, 2023. He was waived on August 14, 2023.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On August 22, 2023, LeCounte signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was waived by the Buccaneers on August 29, and was re-signed to the team's practice squad.

LeCounte signed a reserve/future contract with Tampa Bay on January 23, 2024. He was waived by the Buccaneers on April 24.

References

  1. ↑ Knight, Dennis (May 28, 2016). "MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Richard LeCounte". Savannah Morning News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  2. ↑ Knight, Dennis (December 28, 2016). "2016 Football Defensive Player of the Year: Richard LeCounte, Liberty County". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "From a military town, Georgia commit Richard LeCounte excited about Army Bowl". USA TODAY High School Sports. December 2, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  4. ↑ Tyson, Derek (December 13, 2015). "UGA's Smart gets first commitment: LeCounte". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ Rowe, Jake (June 12, 2019). "Kirby Smart's first full class at Georgia is coming of age". 247Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ Weiszer, Marc (April 17, 2018). "G-Day is another chance for Georgia's Richard LeCounte to respond to coach's challenge". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ Sudge, Brandon (August 15, 2018). "How this Georgia defensive back has handled criticism from Kirby Smart". Macon Telegraph. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ Starrs, Chris (April 17, 2019). "Bigger Richard LeCounte expanding his role for Georgia". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ Vance, Han (February 16, 2020). "It's LeCounte Time in Athens". University of Georgia Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  10. ↑ Sudge, Brandon (January 4, 2020). "Georgia safety Richard LeCounte announces decision on declaring for NFL draft". Macon Telegraph. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Richard LeCounte, Georgia, SS, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  12. ↑ Gribble, Andrew (May 1, 2021). "5th Round: Browns select Georgia S Richard LeCounte III with No. 169 pick in 2021 NFL Draft". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  13. ↑ Links, Zachary (May 13, 2021). "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/21". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Browns claim G Drew Forbes". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 3, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  15. ↑ Mueller, Jared (October 19, 2022). "S Richard LeCounte III released from practice squad". Dawgs By Nature. SB Nation. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  16. ↑ @RamsNFL (December 14, 2022). "LA Rams Transactions: • Signed to Practice Squad DT Khalil Davis • Practice Squad Exception DB Richard LeCounte" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ @RamsNFL (January 9, 2023). "LA Rams Transactions: • Reserve/Future Contracts TE Roger Carter, DB T.J. Carter, DE T.J. Carter, DB Richard LeCounte, T Max Pircher, WR Jaquarii Roberson, WR Jerreth Sterns, DE Brayden Thomas, DE Zach VanValkenburg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ↑ @RamsNFL (August 14, 2023). "LA Rams Transactions: • Waived, No Recall DB Richard LeCounte" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  19. ↑ Smith, Scott (August 22, 2023). "Bucs Add Former Browns Safety Richard Lecounte". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  20. ↑ Smith, Scott (August 30, 2023). "Bucs Cut Down to 53 for Regular Season, Place Ryan Jensen on IR". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  21. ↑ Smith, Scott (August 30, 2023). "John Wolford, Jose Ramirez Among First 14 on Practice Squad". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ Smith, Scott (January 23, 2024). "Bucs Retain 14 Practice Squad Players with Futures Contracts". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  23. ↑ Williams, Charean (April 24, 2024). "Bucs waive CB Richard LeCounte". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 21, 2024.