NORMAN — Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables freely admits he hasn’t been on many practice fields. He’s coached at Kansas State and OU the last 11 years.
But when it comes to linebacker Ronnell Lewis, he’s never seen anything like it.
“He’s the most violent hitter I’ve been around. I haven’t been all over the place, OK, but I’ve been here and we’ve had some good players and he’s as violent as they come,” said Venables, who also coaches the Sooners’ linebackers.
“Violent” isn’t a negative term when it comes to describing football players. It’s a game predicated on winning collisions. Brutality has been part of the game since its inception. The game rewards those who don’t only tackle, but punish when they do it.
Lewis can do that. It’s why OU coach Bob Stoops nicknamed him “The Hammer” last season.
He made a mark for himself on special teams last season as a seek-and-destroy hitter. It seemed like every game he had at least one hit that made bones tingle and the Sooners’ sideline erupt.
“Ronnell is just a monster,” OU running back DeMarco Murray said. “We were watching highlights on kickoffs the other day and he’s just a beast. He’s also a hard worker and I’m glad he’s on my team.”
Lewis doesn’t have an explanation for where that hitting ability comes from. Most football experts believe it’s something people are just born with. Size and speed help, but the ability to punish ballcarriers isn’t something that sprouts from the weight room or the practice field.
“I just go out there and try and put on a show the best way I can,” Lewis said.
That show was mostly seen when OU kicked the ball last season. Lewis’ only start came in the Sun Bowl against Stanford. It was a personnel decision based on the Cardinal’s running offense.
The Sooners want to make Lewis a mainstay on defense against all opponents in all situations this season.
Already he has ascended atop the depth chart at strongside linebacker, but Venables is quick to point out Lewis is a gem that still needs polishing.
It’s not surprising.
Lewis, from Dewar, didn’t play 11-man football until his senior year of high school. He didn’t even start playing linebacker until his senior year of high school.
“They (Dewar’s coaching staff) did a terrific job with him but there’s still some growing from a foundation standpoint that needs to take place and will continue to take place the more he’s around and the more he plays,” Venables said.
But Lewis’ unique talent makes him the kind of player Venables doesn’t want to pigeonhole. He’s worked some at defensive end since last spring. Venables envisions Lewis being used in a similar fashion to OU All-American safety Roy Williams.
Williams was listed as a safety, but played a lot at linebacker in passing situations. Williams’ mix of size and speed allowed him to pull it off. Lewis’ 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame allows him to take on offensive tackles and run with running backs.
Lewis believes he can handle everything on his plate. He admits it took a while to catch on last season. By the end of spring practice, he was where he needed to be mentally.
“It was more catching up with the speed of the game that I had trouble with when I got here, but with the experience that I got last year and with the work I got in during the spring, I think I’m pretty well adjusted to it,” he said.
Lewis wasn’t alone in making that adjustment. Many players from the large high school classes struggle to adjust to the speed of Big 12 football. Many also struggle with the physical nature of the game.
Not Lewis.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
