1. 11
A helmet, pads and a coveted Scarlet jersey were all a freshman defensive
lineman needed to step on the field four years ago. As he would line up
alongside his teammates, there was a clear understanding to hold one
another accountable in upholding the standards that the veteran silver bullets
had already set. The atmosphere was more intense than what the Tarboro,
N.C., native was used to, and this was just the warm up.
“At my first practice, the first thing we did was a dynamic warm up,” Tyquan
Lewis said. “It was rough because I wasn’t used to doing the stretches at an
expedited rate. I was so out of breath and all I could think was that this can’t
be how the rest of practice is going to be.”
Lewis joined the Buckeyes with one of the top recruiting classes in the nation
in 2013. However, he found out from the very first practice that everybody
accepted him for who he was and went out of their way to make him feel
welcomed. Former defensive linemen such as Steve Miller, JT Moore and
Adolphus Washington supported his transition into the Scarlet and Gray.
“Whether I needed a ride or just getting acclimated to the schedule, they
helped me in every way possible,” Lewis said. “They really encouraged us, as
the young guys, to not get discouraged when things got hard because they
had already been through it.”
The Buckeyes witnessed 12 players enter the 2016 NFL Draft, leaving
the offense and defense with the task of filling in talent and leadership
simultaneously. Now as a redshirt junior on the team, Lewis is left as just one
of five of the freshman recruiting class which enrolled in January of 2013 and
one of three returning starters on defense.
“When you look at their work ethic and what they accomplished before they
left, they really just set the standards that everyone can buy into and trust
one another,” Lewis added.
Watching his mentors come and go began Lewis’ transition from student to
teacher. Lewis is coming into this season as a leader on and off the field. Last
season, he led the team in quarterback sacks, ranked second in tackles-
for-loss, and takes responsibility in teaching a young defensive team the
importance of working together to achieve personal and team goals.
“Everybody thinks that we are young and we aren’t even out to prove them
wrong,” Lewis said. “But the main thing we want to be known for is being the
best in the country. Write our names in the record books as the best to
ever do it.”
PUT IT IN WRITING
By Trina Thomas, Ohio State Athletics Communications
Studying under the best of the best prepared an experienced defensive lineman
to teach a few lessons of his own