Rahsaan Lewis is new to game of football

(Photo by Jacob Noger | UK Football)

Despite having a father that won two Super Bowls and was a seven-time first-team All-Pro selection in the NFL, Rahsaan Lewis is new to the game of football.

The 5-foot-11 walk-on wide receiver is the son of legendary Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, the 17-year pro who went to 13 Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl MVP award. Despite the pedigree, the younger Lewis picked up the game late.

Per UK Athletics, Lewis did not start playing football until his senior year of high school at Lake Bulter (Fla.) Windermere Prep in Metro Orlando. While playing for the Lakers, Lewis was a two-way player recording 83 tackles on defense while rushing for 359 yards and collecting 306 yards receiving with nine total touchdowns. After playing basketball, Lewis decided to pursue football in college.

As a true freshman at UCF in 2018, Lewis played defensive back and recorded four tackles in seven games. After that, Lewis transferred to Florida Atlantic for one season in 2019. There, he served as a kick returner. After Lane Kiffin bolted Boca Raton for Ole Miss, Lewis decided to move again and landed in Lexington. Kentucky is the first place where the rising receiver has spent more than one year in college. It appears he has found a home at wide receiver after a strong performance at Kentucky Fan Day.

“I’m just trying to play ball,” Lewis told reporters about his recent performance on Tuesday. “I see the ball go up in the air — I’ve always been a high jumper, always made 50/50 balls very well — so I just went to go get it.”

Go get it he did. Playing outside receiver in the offense, Lewis made two good catches in practice and came away as one of the stars of the show. As Kentucky looks for depth, the redshirt junior with a strong football pedigree could push for some playing time.

With good speed and a self-reported vertical of 45 inches, Lewis brings traits to the table. The coaches confirmed that the open practice performance wasn’t a fluke — Lewis has been playing well in practice. Kentucky could be about to get a surprise contributor at a position of need.

Back in 2018, David Bouvier was a walk-on who turned a strong camp performance into a solid season with 16 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Rahsaan Lewis might be able to do the same thing in 2021 despite being fairly new to the game of football.