LITTLE ROCK — Before the 2011 season, one of the newcomers Central Arkansas Coach Clint Conque showed excitement toward was wide receiver Dezmin Lewis.
Lewis, now a sophomore, was one of seven true freshmen to play for the Bears last season, but was the only one to start. While UCA’s receiving corps featured Isaiah Jackson, TJ Adams and Derrick Steele — all of whom have exhausted their eligibility — Lewis made his mark, appearing in 13 games. He started twice and caught 27 passes for 386 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Bears made their first NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance.
“As a program, you want to redshirt as many players as you can,” Conque said. “There’s a big difference from Friday night to Saturday night. But this young man had the physical maturity, the skillset that we would have been doing our football team last year an injustice by not getting him on the field, because he helped us win a bunch of football games.”
The Bears, ranked No. 25 in The Sports Network FCS poll, will need Lewis to help them defeat Sam Houston State, the defending Southland Conference champion and national runner-up last season, at Estes Stadium on Saturday.
This season, Lewis, 6-4, 206 pounds, has become one of UCA’s top offensive players, leading the Bears with 17 receptions for 117 yards and 3 touchdowns — a touchdown in each of UCA’s first three games against Mississippi, Murray State and NAIA Bacone (Okla.) College.
“No question, he’s elevated his level of play,” Conque said. “It started with his preparation this summer. Dezmin wants to be a big-time football player.
“He’s a big, tall, strong wide receiver that can go over people. He can run by people. His journey is just beginning, because he’s just going into the fourth game of his sophomore year.”
Lewis, from Mesquite, Texas, has caught touchdown passes of 15, 3 and 10 yards this season, providing a big target for junior quarterback Wynrick Smothers.
“It’s great having Dezmin out there,” Smothers said. “He’s 6-4. He can jump. It’s great as a quarterback knowing you have that kind of receiver who’ll go up and get your passes.”
Last Saturday in a 70-3 victory over Bacone, Lewis had two special teams touchdowns. The first score came when Willie Matthews blocked a punt and Lewis picked up the ball and ran 12 yards for a touchdown. He later scored when a snap went over the Bacone punter’s head and Lewis recovered the ball in the end zone.
“Once I ran those in, the momentum picked up for the defense,” Lewis said. “When we got back on special teams, I was like, ‘Let’s get another one.’ And we got another one.”
Lewis has helped UCA’s punt return team average a FCS-best 31.25 yards, a fact that’s not lost on Conque.
“We’re going to attempt to put our best players on the field,” Conque said. “Dezmin is one of our best football players. He certainly has an opportunity to impact in several different areas of our special teams units.”
Lewis believes that his experience as a freshman helped him going into this season.
“I learned all the plays last year,” Lewis said. “It carried over to this year. I was fortunate enough to make a starting spot.”
Dezmin Lewis glance
SCHOOL Central Arkansas POSITION Wide receiver HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-4, 206 pounds CLASS Sophomore HOMETOWN Mesquite, Texas NOTEWORTHY Leads Central Arkansas with 17 catches for 117 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. ... Has two special teams touchdowns this season. ... Appeared in 13 games, including 2 starts, last season, catching 27 passes for 386 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman. ... Lettered two years in football and basketball at North Mesquite (Texas) High School.
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/20/2012