Jermaine Lewis (Arena football)
Encyclopedia
Jermaine Lewis is an arena football
wide receiver
/ linebacker
who is currently plays for the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
of the Arena Football League and a free agent in the National Football League
. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions
in 2003
. He played college football
at Western Michigan
.
In his career, Lewis has also played for the San Francisco 49ers
, Tennessee Titans
, Houston Texans
, Amsterdam Admirals
, Nashville Kats
, Dallas Desperados
, and Grand Rapids Rampage
.
, where he was an All-state and All-County selection for football
. He also lettered
in track
. His nickname
in high school was J-Lew. His childhood heroes were Michael Jordan
and Bo Jackson
.
where he was a safety and wide receiver on the football team and was also a three-year sprinter (2000–2002) and a four-time Central Collegiate Conference champion in track and field.
As a sophomore in 2000, Lewis was a Second-team All-MAC
selection after leading Western Michigan in tackles-for-loss with eight. As a junior in 2001, he finished second on the team with 77 tackle
s as well as two interceptions. A performance which earned him Second-team All-MAC honors as a Safety. As a senior in 2002, he switched to Wide Receiver and recorded 38 receptions for a team-leading 654 yards and four touchdowns.
. However, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions
, but was released before the regular season. He was then signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers
, and then the Tennessee Titans
. Then in 2004
, he was signed by the Houston Texans
and allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals
of NFL Europe.
of the Arena Football League. He played his first two Arena football
seasons for the Kats where he recorded 24 receptions for 233 yards and four touchdowns on offense, as well as 13 tackles, one sack, two forced fumble
s, and one interception (returned 31 yards for a touchdown), on defense. Then in 2007
, he signed with the Dallas Desperados
and spent some time on their practice squad, however, on February 26, 2007, he was traded to the Grand Rapids Rampage
in exchange for wide receiver Jon Rodriguez. On August 15, 2007, he signed a three-year contract with the Rampage. He played the next two seasons with the Rampage, recording 63 receptions for 678 yards, and 11 touchdowns on offense, as well as 50 tackles, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions (returned for a total of two yards) on defense. After the end of the regular season, it was announced that he had been named to the 2008 AFL All-Ironman team. Then on December 2, 2008
, he was released by the Rampage.
Lewis next played for the Amiens Spartiates (Top French league) as a wide receiver.
Currently he is an assistant coach at Central Methodist University
.
or Troy
. He has said his top football memory is his first game in college as a wide receiver, a game in which he recorded four receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. He also likes to play chess
and Scrabble
. He is also scared of heights.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
/ linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently plays for the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
of the Arena Football League and a free agent in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in 2003
2003 Detroit Lions season
The 2003 Detroit Lions season was the 74th season in franchise history.-Staff:-Schedule:-External links:***...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos football
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference . Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season...
.
In his career, Lewis has also played for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
, Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
, Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
, and Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
.
Early years
Lewis attended Waukegan High SchoolWaukegan High School
Waukegan High School, or WHS, is a public, four-year high school located in Waukegan, Illinois, USA, a city to the North of Chicago, Illinois. WHS first opened its doors in 1870. Today, the Brookside Campus extends from Berwick Avenue to McAree Road, and from Brookside Avenue to the center line of...
, where he was an All-state and All-County selection for football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. He also lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. His nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
in high school was J-Lew. His childhood heroes were Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
.
College career
Lewis attended Western MichiganWestern Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
where he was a safety and wide receiver on the football team and was also a three-year sprinter (2000–2002) and a four-time Central Collegiate Conference champion in track and field.
As a sophomore in 2000, Lewis was a Second-team All-MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
selection after leading Western Michigan in tackles-for-loss with eight. As a junior in 2001, he finished second on the team with 77 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s as well as two interceptions. A performance which earned him Second-team All-MAC honors as a Safety. As a senior in 2002, he switched to Wide Receiver and recorded 38 receptions for a team-leading 654 yards and four touchdowns.
National Football League (2003–2004)
Lewis went unselected in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. However, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, but was released before the regular season. He was then signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, and then the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. Then in 2004
2004 Houston Texans season
The 2004 Houston Texans season was the third season in franchise history and saw the expansion club make a two-game improvement on its previous season record. This was the first season in franchise history where the Texans did not finish in last place in the AFC South...
, he was signed by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
of NFL Europe.
Arena Football League (2005–present)
On October 4, 2004, Lewis signed with the Nashville KatsNashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
of the Arena Football League. He played his first two Arena football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
seasons for the Kats where he recorded 24 receptions for 233 yards and four touchdowns on offense, as well as 13 tackles, one sack, two forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s, and one interception (returned 31 yards for a touchdown), on defense. Then in 2007
2007 Grand Rapids Rampage season
The 2007 Grand Rapids Rampage season was the 10th season for the franchise. They look to make the playoffs after finishing 2006 with an 5-11 record...
, he signed with the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
and spent some time on their practice squad, however, on February 26, 2007, he was traded to the Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
in exchange for wide receiver Jon Rodriguez. On August 15, 2007, he signed a three-year contract with the Rampage. He played the next two seasons with the Rampage, recording 63 receptions for 678 yards, and 11 touchdowns on offense, as well as 50 tackles, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions (returned for a total of two yards) on defense. After the end of the regular season, it was announced that he had been named to the 2008 AFL All-Ironman team. Then on December 2, 2008
2008 Grand Rapids Rampage season
The 2008 Grand Rapids Rampage season is the 11th season for the franchise. The Rampage finished the regular season 6-10, earning them a spot in the playoffs as the 6th seed in the American Conference. In their Wild Card playoff game, the Rampage upset the Arizona Rattlers, 48-41. In the Divisional...
, he was released by the Rampage.
Lewis next played for the Amiens Spartiates (Top French league) as a wide receiver.
Currently he is an assistant coach at Central Methodist University
Central Methodist University
Central Methodist University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Fayette, Missouri. CMU is an accredited four year institution of higher education and offers masters, bachelors, and associates degrees...
.
Personal
Lewis has one child, Je'Taeia. His favorite movies are ScarfaceScarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
or Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
. He has said his top football memory is his first game in college as a wide receiver, a game in which he recorded four receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. He also likes to play chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
and Scrabble
Scrabble
Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...
. He is also scared of heights.