NFL Draft Showcase

Dezmin Lewis

Receiver

Central Arkansas

Height – 6-foot-3

Weight – 212

Summary: Lewis appeared in 48 games with 36 starts during his career at Central Arkansas. He finished his fabulous career with 197 catches for 2,668 yards and 24 touchdowns. Lewis was not heavily recruited out of North Mesquite High School.

“We had a running back named Joe Bergeron,” said Dezmin Lewis. “He’s a good player and he went to Texas. They gave him the ball a lot so I was pretty much underrated. I was just blocking for him (laughing). I didn’t get to many opportunities to make plays, but when I did I made the big catch.”

Central Arkansas saw him for the player he is today; a big, strong, physical receiver who can get down field and make big plays. He appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman with two starts at receiver and caught 27 receptions for 386 and two touchdowns on the year.

Lewis never dipped below 50 catches or 600 yards the rest of his career at Central Arkansas. Each season he built on the lessons learned from the season earlier and became one of the best players in the Southland Conference. He finished his senior season with 64 catches for 945 yards and nine touchdowns. The success earned him and invite to the 2015 Senior Bowl (only the second player in school history invited). At the Senior Bowl, he led the South team with 59 yards receiving and tied for the team lead with three receptions.

The Good

Lewis possesses an NFL frame. He is a big, physical target with a wide catch radius. Lewis has long arms (32 6/8”), and catches with his hands and is not a body catcher.  He attacks the football and loves to dominate opposing cornerbacks with his physicality. He knows how to time and attack the football at its highpoint and use his size to his advantage.

“I love one-on-one coverage,” said Lewis.

Man coverage with no safety over the top is an easy trip to the end zone for Lewis. He makes good adjustments to gain separation. No position in the NFL may receive more attention at the NFL Scouting Combine than receiver and their forty-times.

“Looking forward to opening it up,” Lewis said regarding his speed. “At the combine a 4.4,” is the time he is aiming to achieve. If he can notch a time that low he’ll push himself possibly into day two of the NFL Draft.

The Bad

Lewis is not overly quick or elusive. Has build-up type of speed. His routes could be a lot crisper and he tends to round into his cuts instead of making a jolting motion to get separation. He dominated small school competition, although he did prove himself at the Senior Bowl against some of the best in the nation. He does not always look the ball in leading to unnecessary drops and he often relies too much on his size.