Ronnell Lewis' Extraordinary Path to the NFL

You may not have heard of Ronnell Lewis, but if he has his way, you will. The 6’2”, 253-pound pass-rushing outside linebacker has persevered despite back and neck injuries, so one shouldn’t bet against him.

The Detroit Lions selected Lewis in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. It’s a testament to his resiliency and dedication to his craft.

He’s nicknamed "The Hammer" by teammates for the way he hits, yet it has taken a lot of effort to nail down the draft opportunity that now awaits this young man. This unusually gifted athlete played only eight-man football in high school, so he was raw when he came to Oklahoma.

Then came the injuries.

Along with persistent back problems, Lewis had minor knee surgery in 2010 that put him out of two games and a neck injury in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl that caused him to lose feeling in his arms for a short time.

But in a little more than two seasons, he totaled 118 tackles (67 solo), 20.5 for a loss, 10 sacks and two interceptions. He impressed at the NFL Combine, with an unofficial 40-yard time of 4.68 seconds and 36 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

His favorite player is Baltimore Ravens defensive great Ray Lewis. In addition to sharing the same last name, both are known for bone-chilling hits and have persevered despite obstacles in their way. Ronnell is hoping that his career turns out even half as good as Ray, who is a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

And like his namesake, Ronnell wants to be an emotional leader on the field. He also plays with an edge that some would call a mean streak, if you are not on his team. Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel shares this quote from Lewis:

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“I want to be that guy who picks up a team," Lewis said. "When you’re having a hard time and can’t get off the field, you have to be the guy who says, ‘Hey, let’s go!’ I feel like I’ve done that and it’ll continue to progress at the next level because that’s what I want to be. I want to be a motivator."

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The knee is "100%" now, Lewis said. And he does feel like there's plenty of room to grow. With the way he played against some of the best QBs in college, no one should doubt this kid.

Against the No. 2 pick in the draft, QB Robert Griffin III, Lewis intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.

With all of the issues he’s had to face, it is no wonder that NFL teams are starting to believe in Lewis. After all, he believes in himself and that’s a great start. 

Presented by MetLife. I Can Do This.