Gavin Lewis headlines as five sign at Bob Jones
MADISON- There was one surprise left at Bob Jones on National Signing Day 2018 Wednesday. Media outlets from North Carolina and California eagerly awaited the announcement by Gavin Lewis. At 1:30 he announced he would be signing with North Carolina.
“I called Coach (Larry) Fedora a week ago and told him I was locked in to him and North Carolina,” Lewis said. “They called me every day to make sure I was still good. Coach Fedora is open and I like that. I visited one time and that was enough. It is like family and I’m a big family person and when I went on my official they treated us great.
It might have shocked a lot of people, going to the ACC, but to me it’s not. I want to do what’s best for me. What’s going to help me in football and outside of football. Coach Fedora is a great coach. He’s strict but I like that. They came in on me late. He and his staff pursued me and it showed how much they wanted me. I went to the players themselves to find out what kind of program it was and I found out it was about family and I like that.”
Lewis, 6-foot-4 280 pounds, played with the burden of tremendously high expectations. The son of Bob Jones Assistant Football Coach Chris Lewis, he has been pegged for greatness since leading Discovery to a North Alabama Middle School Football Championship four years ago.
He seemed to play his best in the biggest games. He had a breakout game as a junior against James Clemens.
A lot was asked of Lewis as a senior. Head coach Kevin Rose needed him to shore up an offensive line that was thin to begin with. For the first five games Lewis played both ways, requiring him to change jersey numbers. Lewis played 90 snaps against James Clemens but still came up with big plays on defense as Bob Jones won The Madison Bowl. The next week against Huntsville he again played over 90 snaps.
“It has been a lot of hard work and commitment at Bob Jones for me to be here today,” Lewis said. “There has been some ups and downs but I’ve loved my time here. I’m going in to play defense, the three technique, to be a pass rusher. I will play defensive tackle and end.”
Lewis said he will study business at North Carolina and he is a big basketball fan.
“He was outstanding to coach both as a player and as a son,” said Chris Lewis.
Demontrez Brown signed with Troy, Kade Koler signed with South Alabama, Caleb Lawson announced he was going to South Alabama as a preferred walk-on, and Kevontae Higgins signed with Tennessee Valley Prep.
“It’s a proud moment for me and all our coaches as these five players have an opportunity to continue their playing careers in college,” Bob Jones Head Football Coach Kevin Rose said.
Asked about Gavin Lewis, Rose said “it’s tough to get an ACC offer. The opportunity to play at North Carolina is something not many people get. They play in a very competitive conference. Academically they are one of the best colleges in the country.”
