OU recruit defies odds
Lewis, the pride of 8-man Dewar, impressed Sooners with size, skills
OU recruit Lewis defies odds

By Jake Trotter

Published: July 2, 2008

DEWAR — After 30 years, Mark Ryal's reign appears to have ended.

Ryal, who had 223 career at-bats in the major leagues during the 1980s, is no longer the most famous person from Dewar.

That title now belongs to Ronnell Lewis, the latest hero of 8-man football who in February became the first from the Class of 2009 to accept a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma.

Like Ryal did in 1978 when he was a third-round draft choice of the Kansas City Royals, Lewis has the town of 900 strong buzzing once again.

"It's been crazy,” said Lewis, who can't walk anywhere in town without being recognized. "Everybody here is happy for me.

"They want me to go there and work and do my best and succeed.”

Last season, Lewis galvanized Dewar after leading the Dragons to the Class B state championship game.

On the season, he finished with more than 2,300 yards rushing and scored 40 touchdowns while recording more than 100 tackles and 11 interceptions.

That performance helped get him noticed by defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Venables.

The Sooners overlooked Lewis' competition level, and instead focused on his production as well as his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame and 4.6 speed before offering him a scholarship.

"Coach (Bob) Stoops and coach Venables both said it didn't matter what level of football he played at in high school, it was clear he had the tools and the work ethic to be successful at the Division I level,” said Dewar coach Josh Been. "There have been a few 8-man guys over the past few years who have gone on to be successful, but we realized that this was a rarity.”

Even though Lewis was recruited by Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State among others, when OU offered, it didn't take long for him to make a decision.

After all, Lewis' all-time favorite player, running back Adrian Peterson, starred at OU.

Lewis has since become one of the few 8-man players to make the national top-100 recruiting lists.

"When you look at OU recruits, they're big, strong, fast, physical kids,” said Dewar assistant coach Josh Kilhoffer. "Ronnell fits that prototype.”

This season, Dewar will be moving up to Class A and 11-man football for the first time since Lewis has been in high school in likely the most anticipated season in school history.

The change has left Been implementing an 11-man scheme that's unfamiliar to his players, though no doubt will help Lewis' transition to the college level. Lewis will be moving from safety to linebacker, where he's expected to play for the Sooners.

"The game is more downhill for me at linebacker, I feel like I'm doing pretty good at it,” he said. "I still have work to do, though.”

Though rare, Lewis isn't the only 8-man football player to earn a Division I scholarship.

Brady Bond, who almost went unnoticed at Garber, was offered by Oklahoma State. Now, he's OSU's starting right tackle.

Aaron Cummings (Bray-Doyle) and Reggie Skinner (White Oak) both capitalized off stout prep careers to sign with the Sooners.

Chris Penn of Lenapah made it all to way to the Kansas City Chiefs, the first 8-man player out of Oklahoma to make an NFL roster.

And finally, Rashaan Salaam, who played 8-man ball in California, went on to win the Heisman Trophy at Colorado in 1994.

"We have brought up those cases to our kids, letting them know that even at a small school, things like that can happen,” Been said. "I think Ronnell is going to be an inspiration to those kids who have dreams of playing college football. If you're good enough, they're going to find you, even in a place as small as Dewar.”

Lewis knows when he gets to Norman, he won't just be playing for himself. He'll be representing Dewar as well as small-town football across the state.

"I don't want to get a big head about it, but I do realize that people are looking up to me,” Lewis said. "My advice to them is work hard, become dedicated to what you want to do. How far you can go is all based on hard work.”

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