Kentucky Football Countdown: No. 89 Chris Lewis

Kentucky football season is almost here. Players have officially reported back to campus as KSR’s countdown reaches 89, the number of a promising young star, Chris Lewis.

About Lewis

In 2021 Lewis joined Dekel Crowdus as the first four-star Kentucky wide receiver signees since Lynn Bowden. While injuries sidelined the Lexington native, Lewis participated in four games, preserving his redshirt season. A lengthy 6-foot-4, 190-pound pass-catcher, a rash of injuries in the WR room forced Lewis to play significant snaps in the final two games of the season, but he did not record a reception against Louisville or Iowa.

One of the ten best players in the state of Alabama as a high school senior, he caught a pair of touchdowns in the 2020 Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic after earning All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. Lewis led Pleasant Grove High School to back-to-back 5A state championship games. Unfortunately, each game ended as dramatically as Friday Night Lights. The Spartans lost on the final play at the one-yard line in his junior season. The following year he scored two first half touchdowns before an improbable comeback led to a stunning defeat. Over his final two high school seasons Lewis caught 145 passes for 2,633 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Chris Lewis Fun Fact

Jordan Wright and JJ Weaver may not agree, but Lewis is arguably the best basketball player on Mark Stoops’ football team. A second team All-State basketball selection, he averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three assists per game as a senior.

2022 Forecast

I’m confident Chris Lewis will be a good wide receiver at the University of Kentucky. When will that happen? That question is much more difficult to answer.

He has the ideal length and athleticism of an SEC outside wide receiver. Playing through the physicality to win against talented cornerbacks is the biggest hurdle he must surpass to compete on a consistent basis. He spent a year building muscle and piling up reps. This spring Lewis worked at both X and Z receiver to pick up as much of the new offense as possible. Without Javon Baker in the mix, DeMarcus Harris, Dane Key and Chris Lewis will share outside wide receiver reps. Reliability at this position is an important asset. Whoever can prove that to Will Levis over the summer will become WR2.