Auburn Center Connor Lew says team chemistry is 'Better than maybe I even expected'

AUBURN – Sophomore center Connor Lew has not only changed his appearance after a full year in the strength program, he has become a young leader of the team. He has only recently transitioned into year two with Auburn, but he wasn’t a normal freshman. He has seen at least a small shift in the team this spring.

“I’d say everybody is looking to compete in any way that they possibly can, which is a big difference,” Lew said.

Taking on new role

Lew expounded more on the competition he’s seen from the team. The energy level with so many new faces learning the program has surprised him, he says.

“With all the new faces coming in, I was excited to see how it would take place, but I think the group as a whole is gelling really well together–better than maybe I even expected in terms of spring,” Lew said. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how well just on and off the field we have been able to connect. That has definitely contributed to how we’ve been playing on the field. I’m happy with where we are right now.”

Lew was picked to be on the “culture council” of players on the team.

“It was a huge honor,” Lew said. “The way it works, the guys graduating, they have names that they will throw out there and suggest. Just to be one of those names thrown out there, to see what everyone else thought was an honor. But, to be put in it, I feel super honored.”

It’s new territory for Lew, being a vocal leader. However, he has accepted the challenge and feels as though it was what the team is in need of.

“Going into this year I knew my leadership would be challenged,” Lew said. “Now, from a team perspective, being honored by the team in the culture council. Also, being the starting center, you’re in charge of that room. You have to get everybody on the same page. So, on the field, I am being challenged as a leader, but also off the field. So just embracing that challenge. Helping out everybody, knowing what they need to do on certain plays.”

“I’ve always been more of a leader by example, but this has required me to–not step out of my comfort zone–but my natural style. I have to be more of a vocal guy. It has been good for that aspect.”

Thoughts on other players he’s seen

Who is standing out on the other side of the line of scrimmage?

“I’m always going to say my guy Keldric,” Lew said. “Me and him are always competing everyday, working out together, we are competing with the speed of the bar (in team lifts). That goes back to the competition in practice.”

“Then the younger guys: Jamonta (Waller), Amaris (Williams). Those guys are standing out. Just their effort they’re playing with. They’re not afraid to mess up, they’re just going out there playing full speed. The pressure that comes with starting as a freshman, they know they have an opportunity to (play). It leads them to competing. Like, ‘Ok, I have to win every rep so I can make sure my field time is higher than someone else.’ So they know the standards are high and that is contributing to how they’re practicing now.”

When asked directly about what he’s seen from Payton Thorne, Lew explained that Thorne is a guy he is looking up to and trying to model as a leader.

“His leadership and experience is really contagious, I think that is the biggest part with being at center and it has rubbed off on me,” Lew said. “Whether we’re doing drop back protection in practice, he sees a look in the defense that some of the younger guys might not see, he’s able to get us into the right stuff. That is the first thing that sticks out at me. When it comes to our team runs in the offseason, he is just a vocal leader. So he is someone I have been looking at to model and learn how to lead from as well. That has been contagious.”