IU football fans can rejoice, because star quarterback
Kellen Lewis will be back on the field this upcoming season, barring any unforeseen setback. The record-breaking quarterback was suspended indefinitely earlier this year, and it was previously unknown whether or not he'd be playing for the Hoosiers this year. The press release is below.
From Indiana University Media Relations:
KELLEN LEWIS REINSTATED TO FOOTBALL TEAM
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head football coach Bill Lynch announced on Monday that junior quarterback Kellen Lewis has been reinstated to the team, effective immediately.
"Kellen has worked very hard and reached all the benchmarks we set for him," Lynch said. "He is committed to this football program and is excited to rejoin his teammates. We are happy to welcome him back."
Lewis joins Antwaan Randle El as the only QBs in Indiana history to reach 40 passing touchdowns, 5,250 passing yards, 6,000 total yards, 450 completions and 750 attempts in a career. He is just the fifth quarterback at IU to reach 5,000 career passing yards and the fourth player to collect 6,000 total yards. Lewis sits tied for first on Indiana's career list with 42 passing touchdowns, fifth with 5,264 passing yards, third with 6,441 total yards, third with 455 completions, third with 788 attempts and second in completion percentage at 57.7.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native was a second team All-Big Ten (media and coaches), Rivals.com first team All-Big Ten and ESPN.com All-Big Ten selection in 2007. Lewis set the school's single-season record with 28 passing touchdowns, 37 touchdowns accounted for, 3,043 passing yards, 3,779 total yards, 265 completions, 442 attempts and a 60.0 completion percentage. He was one of only three quarterbacks in the country to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 700 yards (Tim Tebow, Florida; Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan)
Lewis and the Hoosiers begin fall camp on Monday, Aug. 4, and open the season on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Western Kentucky.
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This is indeed great news for IU football. While backup
Ben Chappell had been making some progress, Kellen Lewis is undoubtedly the Hoosiers' best option, and his return was going to be necessary if IU hopes to keep its offense anywhere near as electric as last season's.
He's not going to have the dominant
James Hardy lining up on the sideline this year, but Lewis has quite a few more options this year. Indiana is bringing in five new receiver prospects, as well as some talented running backs.
If anything, the Lewis-led offense should be even more unpredictable and dynamic because it won't be so independent on Hardy to produce against a blanket of coverage.
Lewis's return might have been seen as a given to many fans, but it was still a little unnerving to not have him on the field for spring practice and still out of the picture for so long into the summer. Now that he's reinstated, hopefully he has fully corrected the issue that caused his suspension so IU can concentrate on this season.
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