Whitney Lewis WR 6’1 225 Northern Iowa

Whitney Lewis was one of the elite recruits in the country during the 2003 season, ending up as one of USC’s top signees. After two seasons there where he battled weight, conditioning, and grade issues, he landed at Northern Iowa. His first season was spent in the backfield, where he ran for 360 yards and three touchdowns, along with seven catches for 150 yards. Lewis caught 26 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown despite missing four games this past season.

From a physical standpoint, Lewis has it all. He has good size, is very strong, but also brings excellent athleticism and speed to go along with it. He has the size and strength to go over the middle, take a hit and hold on to the ball. At the same time, he has the speed and quickness to be moved around on offense and run by corners down the field vertically.

Where do you begin with Lewis? His dedication to the sport is definitely in question. He had grade issues originally at USC, which was later traced to a learning disability. He also had weight issues as he struggled to adjust to the pace of big time college football. USC tried using him as a mismatch at fullback, but injuries sidelined him. At UNI, he has not dominated the way his talent suggests he should at that level.

Lewis is a prospect solely because of his physical ability. He will be given a shot in the league because of his natural talent, but it is up to him if he wants to utilize it. If the light ever clicks, Lewis has the talent to be the next Anquan Boldin or David Boston in his prime. He has that type of build and game breaking athleticism. He will only be a free agent addition to a team but if he can show the ability to work, someone may have a diamond in the rough.