Appalachian's Lewis

shakes off rust

By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Appalachian State defensive end Quavian Lewis bursts out of his stance in front of Corbett Harris, the Mountaineer offensive tackle trying to block him, and is able to put some pressure on quarterback Armanti Edwards during an 11-on-11 drill toward the end of practice Wednesday.

Lewis, the transfer from Vanderbilt, then gets some instruction from defensive line coach Mark Speir before lining up again. Then Lewis lines up again and again for more reps at the right defensive end position.

“It’s going pretty good,” Lewis said of his spring workouts. “I’m a little rusty, but it’s coming back, though.”
It may be labor for some, but for Lewis, it’s a chance to get back on the football field in a long time. The last time Lewis played, it was at the end of the 2006 season when he was at Vanderbilt played Tennessee.

Since then, he transferred to Appalachian State, but had to sit out of the 2007 season because of NCAA rules. Now that he’s allowed to practice, Lewis is taking advantage of if by shooting to the top of the depth charts, at least during spring workouts.

He’ll battle Gary Tharrington, Tony Robertson and Tim Washington for playing time at defensive end this fall. Tharrington, Washington and defensive tackle Daniel Finnerty are participating in the conditioning part spring practice, but are being held out of contact drills because of a variety of injuries suffered during the 2007 season.

Speir loves Lewis’ athletic ability, but said the year off has made Lewis somewhat rusty.

“You can tell that he’s had a year off,” Speir said. “ He’s rusty on some things and I don’t care what you say, the experience factor is hurting him. They had just moved him at Vanderbilt from linebacker to end the spring before he left. He’s more mature mentally, but as far as playing that position, he’s like a high school freshman.”

Lewis, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, went to Vanderbilt as a linebacker, but was moved to defensive end. He was also recruited by Troy, which was “literally across the street from my house,” and where his native Charles Henderson High School played its football and basketball games. But Lewis wanted to play football in another part of the country.

Lewis was moved to defensive end and played sparingly, most on special teams, while at Vanderbilt. He had three sacks in a spring game in 2007, but left the SEC school shortly afterward for Appalachian State.

Speir compared Lewis to former ASU defensive end Jason Hunter, saying that the two are similar in size and athletic ability.

“He’s more in the terms of a Jason Hunter,” Speir said. “He can run like Hunter can.”

He chose Appalachian State for the players and the coaching staff. Lewis visited Appalachian State in June of 2007, when the weather was pleasant. He said the most snow he ever saw before coming to Boone was the “Blizzard of ’98” when it snowed two inches in his native Troy, Ala.

“I liked the players,” Lewis said. “Tony Robertson was my host and I liked the coaches and coach (Jerry) Moore. He’s a great motivator and he knows what he’s talking about. He’s a good Christian guy, a guy to look up to.”

It also didn’t hurt that Watauga County also caters to Lewis’ love of the outdoors. He said he’s not much of a hunter, but he really likes to fish.

“I’m an outdoorsman,” he said. “I like to fish a lot. I’m a country boy. That’s about it, but I can’t catch any trout in Boone. I might be going to the wrong places.”

Lewis will get a chance to hunt for quarterbacks this fall. He had to look on the field from the bench while his teammates marched to a third Football Championship Subdivision title last year. He didn’t make the trip to Michigan either, having to watch the game on television.

He said it was not easy missing those games, but looks forward to this fall. He redshirted one year at Vanderbilt and played his freshman season. Lewis lost a year of eligibility when he missed the 2007 season, making him a junior heading into 2008 and the season opener at LSU on Aug. 30.

“I’m definitely looking forward to that,” Lewis said. “I didn’t get to make that trip there at Vanderbilt because I was a redshirt. Then the next year I didn't play that much, so next year I’ll get the full experience. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Lewis is paying the price for his inactivity. He said the conditioning he’s done at Appalachian State has been the most he’s done in his life.

But he’s also not complaining. He knows he’s got some catching up to do and working hard to get there doesn’t bother him.

“I know it will all pay off for me in the end,” he said. “We’re going to be running full speed in a game.”
Lewis has other goals than leading the Mountaineers to an unprecedented fourth-straight national championship.

He also would like to graduate with a degree in sociology and earn a minor in communications.

“My one goal is to graduate, be successful and get my degree,” he said. “And I want to win a fourth championship and get the experience of last year. I could have been in the mix, but I’m really looking forward to try and earn another one with the team.”

Appalachian State defensive end Quavian Lewis bursts out of his stance in front of Corbett Harris, the Mountaineer offensive tackle trying to block him, and is able to put some pressure on quarterback Armanti Edwards during an 11-on-11 drill toward the end of practice Wednesday.

Lewis, the transfer from Vanderbilt, then gets some instruction from defensive line coach Mark Speir before lining up again. Then Lewis lines up again and again for more reps at the right defensive end position.

“It’s going pretty good,” Lewis said of his spring workouts. “I’m a little rusty, but it’s coming back, though.”
It may be labor for some, but for Lewis, it’s a chance to get back on the football field in a long time. The last time Lewis played, it was at the end of the 2006 season when he was at Vanderbilt played Tennessee.

Since then, he transferred to Appalachian State, but had to sit out of the 2007 season because of NCAA rules. Now that he’s allowed to practice, Lewis is taking advantage of if by shooting to the top of the depth charts, at least during spring workouts.

Lewis, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, went to Vanderbilt as a linebacker, but was moved to defensive end. He was also recruited by Troy, where his native Henderson High School played its football and basketball games, but he wanted to play in another part of the country.

Lewis was moved to defensive end and played sparingtly, most only special teams, at Vanderbilt. He had three sacks in a spring game in 2007, but left the SEC school shortly afterward for Appalachian State.

He chose Appalachian State for the players and the coaching staff. Lewis visited Appalachian State in June of 2007, when the weather was pleasant. He said the most snow he ever saw before coming to Boone was the “Blizzard of ’98” when it snowed two inches in his native Troy, Ala.

“I liked the players,” Lewis said. “Tony Robertson was my host and I liked the coaches and coach (Jerry) Moore. He’s a great motivator and he knows what he’s talking about. He’s a good Christian guy, a guy to look up to.”

Lewis also had to look on the field from the bench while his teammates marched to a third Football Championship Subdivision title last year. He didn’t make the trip to Michigan either, having to watch the game on television.

He said it was not easy missing those games, but looks forward to this fall. He redshirted one year at Vanderbilt and played his freshman season. Lewis lost a year of eligibility when he missed the 2007 season, making him a junior heading into 2008 and the season opener at LSU on Aug. 30.

“I’m definitely looking forward to that,” Lewis said. “I dind’t get to make that trip there at Vanderbilt because I was a redshirt. Then the next year I dind’t play that much, so next year I’ll get the full experience. I’m really looking foward to it.”

Lewis is paying the price for his inactivity. He said the conditioning he’s done at Appalachian State has been the most he’s done in his life.

But he’s also not complaining. He knows he’s got some catching up to do and working hard to get there doesn’t bother him.

“I know it will all pay off for me in the end,” he said. “We’re going to be running full speed in a game.”