Meet the Kentucky Football Rookies: Chris Lewis

You’ve seen their recruiting profiles and watched their high school highlight reels. Now it’s time to meet Kentucky football rookies, like Chris Lewis, that will be making plays at Kroger Field for years to come.

Chris Lewis: A Different Animal

Chris Lewis is one of the highest-ranked players from the Wildcats’ 20201 recruiting class. A 6-foot-4, 190 pound wide receiver from Pleasant Grove, Al., Lewis was a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports. Lewis’ length is a strength, but what sets him apart is between the ears.

Some players are often described as “gamers.” They turn it on when the lights are brightest. To shift into a second gear, his high school coach had an unusual way of motivating Lewis.

“My coach, his tactics, he would purposefully try to piss me off to make me play better. He would do it in front of everybody and it really bothered me,” Lewis said. “When I get mad, it’s just — a different animal comes out.“

High School Heartbreak

For two seasons Lewis was consistently one of the best pass-catchers in the state of Alabama. As a junior he had 75 catches for 1,398 yards and 20 touchdowns. Despite a shortened COVID-19 season in 2020, he still caught 70 passes for 1,235 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Lewis helped Pleasant Grove reach the 5A State Championship Game in consecutive seasons. Seeking the school’s first state title, they came up painfully short in 2019. The final play was essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the Friday Night Lights film.

“The first year was hard. Being in the end zone and just watching my quarterback fall one yard short of the goal line, it was heartbreaking,” Lewis recalled. “It was hard. Just watching him fall, I thought he was going to make it. He fell one yard short and it was right in front of me.”

Wow. Central-Clay stops Pleasant Grove at the 1 as time expires. Vols hold on to win 31-27. #alpreps pic.twitter.com/QqjlmvK3dP

— Ben Thomas (@BenThomasPreps) December 6, 2019

One year later Pleasant Grove was in a similar situation, up by double digits in the second half, only to come up short once again.

“We came out of halftime and the second play I caught like a 60-yard touchdown. We were up by ten. Everybody’s hyped. They come down and have a 4-5 minute drive, they kick an onside kick, score again, and we’re just like, man, not this again and we lost.”

Basketball Star

Lewis is not simply a one-trick pony. He also excelled on the hardwood, averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three assists as a senior to earn Second Team All-State honors. Lewis was named the 2021 Birmingham Athlete of the Year by AL.com.

Like Jordan Wright, Lewis could have played college basketball. Earnest Sanders is also a talented basketball player, but Lewis believes he’s the best hooper on the Kentucky football team. After watching some of his play, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

Adjusting to SEC Football

Since Lewis arrived in Lexington this summer, his eyes have been opened. Each day poses a new physical challenge that is exponentially more rigorous than high school football.

“We didn’t do much contact or do one-on-ones because of injuries and stuff. But here, everyday you’re competing and it’s very different.”

The playbook is also different. Luckily, this is not the first time he’s had to learn a new offensive system. Just like in high school, initially when he first opened the playbook he felt like a deer in headlights.

“I was kind of lost, like what is he talking about? When I got here, it’s kind of the same way. What is he talking about? I think I came a long way from when I first looked at the playbook. When I first looked at it, I was like, man. It’s hard. Now I know what I do, I know multiple positions.”

It may take some time for Lewis to get comfortable playing against SEC cornerbacks. Once he does, watch out. Lewis has all of the tools to become the Wildcats’ next star wide receiver.