NIU’s Tommylee Lewis could add a jolt to Saints’ special teams

Last season, rookie running back and return man Marcus Murphy took over kickoff and punt return duties and gave juice to special teams units that had sorely been missing it. However, as the season went on Murphy’s performance declined in part to injury and mental mistakes, and he eventually landed on injured reserve. This finish to the season earned him some competition in training camp.

As is normally the case with undrafted players, Saints fans were likely scratching their heads about one of the Saints newest wide receivers.

Tommy Lee Jones Jerry Lee Lewis

Tommylee Lewis may not be a known commodity in most places, but in the Mid-American Conference, defenses and special teams units are very well aware of who he is.

In 2013, he was awarded Honorable Mention All-American accolades as an all-purpose player by SI.com and First-Team All-MAC after averaging 117.1 yards per game.

Lewis is a diminutive player, just scratching 5-foot-7 and 168 lbs., but he packs a great deal of explosion in his small frame. At his Pro Day, Lewis ran a 4.5 second forty-yard dash and had a 10-foot broad jump. Modest numbers for most players, but very impressive for a player his size.

Lewis is plenty fast enough, but what makes him dangerous is his lightning quick ability to make cuts and change directions. Any time he gets into space, he is a threat to take it to the end zone.

During his four years with the Huskies, Lewis played in 39 games and was the epitome of a “Swiss Army knife” player. He carried the ball 63 times for 558 yards and three touchdowns, caught the ball 138 times for 1,282 yards and eight touchdowns, returned 65 kicks for 1,656 yards and four touchdowns, and he returned 15 punts for 121 yards.

He also threw a 17-yard touchdown because, you know, why not? For those keeping count, Lewis totaled 3,617 yards on 282 touches. That’s almost 13 yards per touch, and that’s not bad at all.

But why would such an explosive player only get 281 touches in his career?

Well, when you are 5-foot-7, 168 lbs. you probably don’t have a true position, and when you get hit, the pain lingers a little bit longer. That was the case in his senior season when he played just two games as he fought through ankle and knee injuries.

If he wants to stick on an NFL roster, he is going to have to show that he can take NFL hits. The guy he is competing against has to prove the same thing, but he has a year of experience under his belt.

It should not come as a shock that Darren Sproles is one of the players he most get compared to. The Saints have sorely missed the electricity Sproles brought on offense and special teams. With some luck, Tommylee Lewis could to be the next lightning bug on the bayou to try to fill some huge, little shoes that Sproles left. We’ll see what he is made of come the fall.