He doesn't have the experience as a return man, but Lewis is an intriguing name to keep an eye on in the later rounds.
At 6'4", 212 pounds, Lewis has the size NFL teams are looking for in a receiver, with the frame to bulk up a bit and become more physical. He might be a bit more of a project coming from a smaller program, but Lewis has the natural talent to develop into a special player under the right circumstances. He earned First Team all-conference honors in 2014 with career-highs in receptions (64), receiving yards (945) and scoring (nine touchdowns). Lewis isn't just productive, he's capable of making the spectacular reception, including a touchdown against Stephen F. Austin in which he reached around a defender to latch on and control the ball, earning UCA a rare SportsCenter mention on the Top 10 plays for Oct. 4, 2014.
STRENGTHS:Sports an athletic frame with good muscular development in his upper body. Savvy route-runner who varies his release and gait to create slivers of separation. Soft, natural hands to pluck the ball outside of his frame. Good awareness to avoid the first defender after the catch, showing some wiggle and a burst. Good recognition of the sideline to get a foot down in bounds. Smooth accelerator, though his top-end speed is a question. Good awareness as a downfield blocker, though he could show greater physicality in this area.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks explosiveness as a runner and leaper. Relies on deception to sneak deep rather than possessing the top-end speed to challenge over the top. Doesn't consistently use his size to his advantage, mistiming his leaps and pestering rather than controlling opponents as a downfield blocker. Lacks the shiftiness and acceleration to generate much yardage after the catch and does not have the speed to pull away.
Lewis' ultimate draft status could hinge on how scouts feel he performs against the elite talent at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine. Lewis looks the part of an NFL receiver with excellent size and a muscular frame. He's a savvy route-runner who possesses impressive hand-eye coordination. There is some question, however, as to his straight-line speed.
[ Edited by BermudaTriangle49er on Jan 11, 2015 at 11:22 PM ]