The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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of the Wolverines at this point in the season, and his veteran teammates have noticed. "I see him making plays out there, understanding the defense, speak- ing up," senior defensive end Bren- nen Beyer observed. "He's definitely rounding into a good player for us out there." "He's a great player," fifth-year se- nior linebacker Jake Ryan offered. "It really started in the spring. He really understood, and in the spring game, he made two interceptions. He's re- ally doing well. He's progressing ev- ery day." Where Lewis planned to make his plays never really came into ques- tion, once everyone realized he'd en- joy his pick of major schools. He'd been watching the Wolverines for a long time and required less prod- ding than an offensive lineman in a donut shop when the local school came calling. "It was the home team," Lewis said. "It was always the home team. I grew up watching Michigan. I love Michigan to death. I saw the oppor- tunity, and as soon as I got that call, I jumped on it. I committed. "I remember Mike Hart running the ball. That's when I used to play running back. I was a big fan of him, and Chad Henne, Mario Manning- ham, just watching that offense do what they did. That's when I first fell in love with Michigan." Lewis didn't know how tough those fluid moves actually were — or how tough they were to defend — until he got put in position to do so. He played in all 13 Michigan games as a true freshman, holding down a special teams spot and finding the field in eight games as a backup de- fensive back. One of those games occurred in East Lansing, a 29-6 loss to the Spar- tans. A number of Wolverines grew up a little that day, the hard way. Lewis acknowledges he was one of them. "When I first got out there, the game was so fast," he marveled. "I wasn't playing comfortably. After I saw the tape on that, and had some experience this year in spring ball, it's just calmed down for me." Playing against Indiana proved more fulfilling, victory-wise, but the 63-47 track meet brought les- sons of its own. Michigan defenders sang "The Victors" right along with their prolific offensive brethren in that one, but with a little more of an added wince in the video room. Once again, the true freshman picked up some valuable, and eye- opening, wisdom for the future. "They went quick tempo on us," Lewis recalled. "That was a huge learning point. That helped me a lot." He took those lessons into the off- season, then into spring football. Be- fore long, the rising sophomore had created a buzz with regard to him be- coming Michigan's best cover corner available, more veteran performers notwithstanding. He seemed like a sure starter, but when the season opened, senior Ray- mon Taylor and redshirt junior Blake Countess manned the cornerback spots. Lewis stepped forward a week later, but absorbed another tough les-