Sports

Athletic Lewis leaping up draft boards

They may have come to Madison to see Lee Evans, but when they left, the NFL representatives present at Wisconsin Pro Timing Day had a pretty good idea of what Alex Lewis is all about. That, of course, is scary athleticism.

The Delran, N.J., native put on a workout exhibition in front of 22 NFL teams, stealing the show and boosting his NFL draft status.

“They all saw improvement today,” Lewis said after his March 3 workout. “That was my goal: I was going to come out here and my goal was to improve in everything and that’s what I did.”

At February’s Indianapolis scouting combine, Lewis was slowed by a hip-flexor injury, limiting the speedy linebacker’s times. That was hardly the case in Madison, as he lit the McClain Center turf on fire with a 40-yard dash timed as low as 4.5 seconds.

“I was a little bit hurt at the combine, but that’s no excuse regardless,” Lewis said of his time. “I had my mind set on a 4.4 flat. I got a 4.5 flat. I’m not over-happy, I’m content with it, but I can always get better.”

With a 41-and-1/2-inch vertical leap, Lewis just may have jumped his way into the middle rounds of this weekend’s draft, perhaps earning himself a phone call on day one. Measuring 5-foot-11 and 1/4 and 228 pounds, Lewis also recorded standing-broad-jump distances of 10-foot-1 and 10-foot-5. After putting up 25 repetitions of the 225-pound bench press at the combine, he did not lift in Madison.

Not only has Lewis’ athleticism and playing ability received rave reviews from scouts, but so has his character.

“Most of all they like my personality,” he said. “They like my background: that I haven’t gotten in any trouble. I’m not down on anybody that got in any trouble, but my record is clean. I never had any suspensions. I’m just a hard worker and that’s what I’m going to try to bring to a team.”

In the East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco, Lewis starred for the East defense, leading the team with seven tackles, six of which were solos. The all-star game provided him the chance to impress NFL representatives on and off the field. He interviewed with 25 teams at the scouting combine in Indianapolis and met with others at the Shrine Game.

“Well, Alex, I’ve been tracking him for some time, just because he’s a very interesting guy,” said Lynn Stiles, vice president of football operations for the Kansas City Chiefs. “We had a chance to visit, spend some time together out at the East-West Shrine Game as well. I really like his demeanor, I like the way he plays the game. He plays the game fast, he’s tough. I really think he’s got a career in this game, and it’s not really important where he’s drafted, the fact is he just has an opportunity. And once he has an opportunity he will seize it.”

After transferring from SUNY-Morrisville, Lewis certainly seized the opportunity presented to him in Madison. In 2003, he tallied 89 tackles, 16.5 of them for a loss. He also racked up nine sacks, three forced fumbles and one safety. Lewis’ shining moment may have come in UW’s Oct. 18 home loss to Purdue. In that contest, Lewis made 6.5 tackles for loss, recorded five sacks and forced a fumble that Jeff Mack returned 55 yards for a touchdown.

However, his professional future could lie in his ability to stand out on special teams. As a senior, Lewis blocked a pair of kicks, showing the pros what he is capable of.

“Special teams, that’s where you get your face on the TV and make a play,” Lewis said. “That’s how I look at it. I love making plays, so if I get a chance at special teams,

(I’ll) make plays, but ultimately my goal is to go out there and start for an NFL team.”

Lewis, who will be staying in Madison to watch the draft, does not care where he is picked. He is simply happy for the opportunity.

“You never know, I don’t know myself,” Lewis said. “It’s just the waiting game right now. I’m just glad to be here. I’m from junior college and I had big dreams of going here one day.”