It's an oak seedling. Can't tell for sure from your photos but it looks like one for the Red Oak group. Seedling oaks have similar juvenile leaves so it will be difficult to identify the species for a year or two. Good start is to id the species of mature oaks close by?

I would look for Oak trees in the vicinity. Do you see any acorns?

My neighbor has a pin oak but I don't think it's mature enough to produce acorns, I've never seen acorns anywhere in the neighborhood. I have what is possibly quercus nigra growing up through another tree on my property. Sadly I live in a typical NC development which is mostly crepe myrtle, pines, and maples. I would love to keep these guys going, although I gather that if they are water oak they're not desirable. One of them is in the middle of the "lawn" (bermuda). If I fence it off will it have a fighting chance or will the bermuda eventually choke it out?

The tree should win if it can survive this summer.

it was already hacked to the ground once ...

if you want to protect them .. put a big marker stake near it ... just so the dude with the weedwhip or mower.. stays away from it ...

just cut the grass out.. in a 2 foot circle .. and add mulch ... work patiently within 6 to 8 inches of it ...

transplant times can be tricky for oaks .. now is probably not the best time ...

ken