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Lewis leaves a big impression

OU's Travis Lewis had 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and two interceptions against Kansas State on Saturday. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/27/2008  2:05 AM
Last Modified: 10/27/2008  3:49 AM

 A redshirt freshman is the glue of the Oklahoma linebacker corps.

Travis Lewis is arguably, with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the Sooners' best defensive playmaker this season. He proved it on Saturday with a statistically superb performance at Kansas State.

Lewis "stood out," coach Bob Stoops said, with 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and two interceptions for 55 yards in returns.

"He plays really hard," linebackers coach Brent Venables said. "He can run and likes to compete. He just plays hard. He makes a lot of mistakes during the game but it's because he plays so incredibly hard (that) he does a lot of things really well."

He's been doing it most of the season.

He had 19 tackles against Texas, the most by a Sooner since Lance Mitchell had 19 in 2002 and the fourth-highest total at OU since 1983. He's currently second in the Big 12 Conference with 83 tackles and first in conference-only games with 51.

"Travis is a heck of an athlete," Stoops said.

He showed that during his two interception returns. The 6-foot-2, 232-pound former running back from San Antonio's Lee High School (he ran for 1,436 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior) had some nifty moves.

"I thought he looked slow, and I thought he was going to fumble," Venables said, half-joking. "I'm screaming for him to go down. But he did a great job on both of those, returning the ball."

Venables said "There are some similarities" between Lewis and former Sooner Clint Ingram. "Clint was a great competitor and was explosive, no doubt. Clint was always playing with a lot of emotion."

Since losing fourth-year junior Ryan Reynolds to a knee injury, the 20-year-old Lewis has taken on leadership of the linebacker corps, along with junior Keenan Clayton. Saturday's performance was a big step for Lewis toward that end.

"No doubt," Venables said. "Even in the course of a game you can tell how he's getting better because he understands things that he did wrong and can fill it up before we ask him what happened. Obviously that shows a guy that continues to improve. I've been very pleased with that."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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Mac C., (10/27/2008 9:44:37 AM)
Ok !, You have two guys who at least performed on dfense last Saturday, Lewis and McCoy. What about the rest of the defense? Missed or bad attempts at tackling. Busted pass coverage. Some of the guys looked like they were in a trance waiting for soemone to tell them what to do next. In other words, they didn't look like they had been prepared to play FOOTBALL. Sorry, no exccuses if you want to be at the top of the pile. Unfortunately, we have seen these failing in key games of the last few years. Sad but true!
 

 
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