OSU Player to Watch, Day 8: Shaun Lewis

Oklahoma Sports brings you the eighth day of a 15-part series detailing the players to keep an eye on next season.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:31 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Feb 22, 2010 3:56 PM CDT

More on Oklahoma Sports?
- OU Player to Watch, Day 8: Jamarkus McFarland
- TU Player to Watch, Day 8: Thomas Roberson

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

LB Shaun Lewis

Background:

Shaun Lewis was a highly-sought-after outside linebacker recruit in the 2010 class. He received offers from all over the nation, including National Champion Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Lewis measures in at 6-foot-1-inch 205 pounds, ran a 4.5 second 40-yard-dash and had a 3.0 GPA in high school. Lewis was voted as a Class 5A All-State honorable mention and was noted by many analysts for his speed, quickness and ability to change direction.

Why He’s on the List:

Oklahoma State lost all three of its linebackers from the 2009 season, who were the three leading tacklers on the team. OSU linebackers accounted for 249 of the 823 tackles on the season, slightly more than 30 percent, and outside linebackers accounted for 178 of those or 21 percent. With Orie Lemon on the other side, Lewis should get a lot of plays on the opposite side and see a lot of single blockers. If he gets single blockers, he is fast enough to easily beat them and wreak havoc in the backfield.

Best Case Scenario:

If Lewis walks on to campus and is everything he is billed to be from day one, the Cowboys will have one of their biggest holes on defense filled early. Lewis is fast enough to chase down running backs in the open field, cover fast tight ends and be a killer on the edge blitz. It will be a big help for the Cowboys if he can fill the void at linebacker that will be left by the losses of Donald Booker and Patrick Lavine.

Worst Case Scenario:

If Lewis has trouble adjusting to the speed of the game early, it could be disastrous. He is a player that depends on being just as quick or quicker than the guys on the other side of the ball, and could have a hard time because everybody is quick at the college level. OSU is looking for him to contribute and contribute early, and if he doesn’t, it will lose the big advantage they had in the run game with their talented linebacker corps.

My Take:

There’s a reason that Lewis was a top-250 player in the country. He’s big, fast, strong and smart and will end up being a force at outside linebacker for OSU for a long time. Adjusting to the speed of the game at the college level is always tough, but the top talent always tends to adjust well. There is a gaping hole at linebacker after Andre Sexton, Booker and Lavine, but Lewis has the skill set and the talent to fill the gap and contribute early and often for the Cowboys.

Other OSU players to watch (click the name below for the full story)
- Day 1: LB Orie Lemon
- Day 2: S Markelle Martin
- Day 3: RB Jeremy Smith
- Day 4: TE Wilson Youman
- Day 5: S/Ret Johnny Thomas
- Day 6: QB Johnny Deaton
- Day 7: OL Lane Taylor