Marquavius Lewis primed to help improve USC pass rush
Marquavius Lewis declared his first spring at South Carolina a success.
The junior defensive end from Greenwood made the move to the Gamecocks and competed in spring practice after a standout sophomore season at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.
“It is something I was able to transition to,” he said. “I got used to it pretty fast. It look a lot of effort this spring.”
Lewis was one of the first-team ends this spring and is expected to start for the Gamecocks when they play North Carolina in the season opener.
His efforts at USC earned him the Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring honor. USC coaches are asking him and his line teammates to turn around a defense ranked No. 118 in total sacks (12) last season and No. 123 in tackles for loss (44).
“Last season, we didn’t get enough pass rush,” he said. “We emphasized it a lot (this spring).”
BY THE NUMBERS
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 270 pounds
Stats: As a sophomore, had 63 tackles in 12 games, including 20.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks; had 21 quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles and recovered one
Rating: Four-star prospect, according to 247Sports Composite; highest-rated recruit in USC’s 2015 class; considered No. 1 JUCO strong-side defensive end
THREE THINGS
▪ Played two seasons at Hutchinson Community College.
▪ Named the Jayhawk Conference defensive player of the year for 2014 and first-team all-conference
▪ Also considered Auburn
THREE QUOTES
▪ “I know what I have to do. That’s on the back of my mind every time I come out to practice, in the weight room, wherever.”
▪ “The physicality is different coming from junior college to the SEC. It was an amazing difference in the personnel.”
▪ “It felt good,” he said of his spring game effort. “I got after the passer and showed what I could do on the edge.”
COACHES’ TAKE
Defensive line coach Deke Adams: “Great player. He is a very down-to-earth, all-about-business type kid. He’s putting a stamp on the defensive line already.”
Co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke: ‘“You really like his physical ability. He’s very quiet. He just kind of goes to work and works very well. Those are all things you like to see in a guy.”
This story was originally published June 28, 2015 at 6:33 PM.