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Here's another Frosh to add to your collection:
Name:Ben Lewis
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Freshman
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 194
Hometown: Middletown, Md.
High School: Middletown
2011 Stats: N/A
2012 Projections: Lewis comes to SU as a decorated high school stand out. The wide out was named to the 2011 PrepStar All-East Region team, Lewis was also a Maryland All-State Selection while leading his team to a 13-1 record and a state title. His senior year Lewis caught 51 passes for 876 yards and 12 scores.
So, although Lewis is likely to either sit the year out or play sparingly on special teams, the big receiver certainly should make his mark at Syracuse over the course of his career. Plus, given some of the injuries to players like Alec Lemon and the kind of unstable future of Marcus Sales, Lewis could see the field at wide receiver if he has a productive camp.
Regardless of when he plays, everything I read or hear about Lewis tells me this kid isn't afraid of contact and does everything he can to help his team (evidenced by his playing wide receiver and running back along with defensive end in high school). Hyperbole be damned, I'm guessing Lewis becomes a big time leader on offense for the 'Cuse at some point soon.
How'd He Get Here?: Lewis chose Syracuse over Connecticut (Suck it Coach P!), along with a wide variety of smaller schools.
What'd Scout/Rivals Say?: Scout went with....two stars. (I'm quite positive if I asked Scout to rate me, even at my age and with no discernible skill or talent, I'd get two stars.) In a complete shock, Rivals went the exact opposite way and gave Lewis, oh wait, no, Rivals went the exact same way, giving Lewis...two stars.
Seriously, I think Scout and Rivals work overtime on the SEC, Big 12, Big 10, and Pac 12 recruits and just copy and paste 'two stars' to everyone else.
Money Quote: Lewis was a happy three-way player at Middletown (offense, defense, special teams):
I hate going off the field. I love defense, I love offense and I love special teams. There's something about being out there - I love it.
Links of Wonder: Lewis totaled 144 yards, 88 receiving and 56 rushing, and tallied two TDs in helping his Middletown school win its first ever state championship this past winter.
What Does Marrone Think: It's not coach Doug Marrone's words, but I think it's better than anything the coach could have said. Here's what Wayne Yarborough, a Rivals recruiting analyst (or so I'm told) once said about Lewis:
'Ben Lewis is dangerous, man.'
Hopefully he was talking about Lewis' talents for football.
Interesting Nugget O'Interest: I'm ignoring the fact it's weird, and simply pointing out that Sean realized Ben has pretty good body symmetry. Again, nothing weird about it.
Let Us Get a Good Look Atchya: Here's a 2010 highlight reel of Lewis: