Lance Lewis Season 1992-93

Honors & Awards
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (AP, Coaches, 1992)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1991)
Nebraska Tom Novak Award (1992)
Big Eight Shot Put Champion (1991)
Seventh Round NFL Draft Pick (Indianapolis Colts, 1993)

1992 (Senior)
A dominant force as a blocker and runner as a fullback, Lance Lewis averaged a team-best 7.8 yards per carry for the second consecutive season as a senior for the Huskers in 1992. Lewis totaled a career-best 482 yards on a career-high 62 carries as a senior while scoring five touchdowns. He had five runs of 25 yards or more, including a career-long 57-yard touchdown against Utah, a 50-yard touchdown against Arizona State, a 42-yard score against Middle Tennessee State and a 34-yard touchdown against Colorado. He added a sixth touchdown with a 15-yard reception against Iowa State. He finished with a career-high 85 yards against Utah, while adding 62 yards in the win over Colorado. Lewis helped Nebraska capture the Big Eight title and its third NCAA rushing title in a four-year span by averaging 328.2 yards per game. The Big Red also ranked second in the nation in scoring (38.8 ppg). Lewis added three carries for 19 yards against Florida State in the 1993 Federal Express Orange Bowl.

Lewis totaled 1,008 career rushing yards and six touchdowns on 163 carries (6.2 ypc) over 44 regular-season games. He added 54 receiving yards and another score on four receptions. He also recorded six career tackles. Following the 1992 season he was named Nebraska’s Tom Novak Award winner, which is presented to the senior who “best exemplifies courage and determination despite all odds in the manner of Nebraska All-America center Tom Novak.” 

Lewis was chosen in the seventh round (184th overall pick) of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

1991 (Junior)
A honorable-mention All-Big Eight fullback as named by the conference coaches, Lewis was a major reason for Nebraska capturing its seventh NCAA rushing title in a 12-year span. He helped the Big Red average 353.2 yards per game on its way to the Big Eight title and a trip to the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl. The 6-0, 225-pound fullback rushed for 196 yards on just 25 carries (7.8 ypc) over 10 games, missing only the Colorado State game with leg injuries. He also served as the primary lead blocker for I-backs Derek Brown and Calvin Jones to combine for 2,213 rushing yards in the regular season. Lewis also carried the ball seven times for 17 yards against the Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl. In addition to his success on the gridiron, Lewis joined the Husker track and field team following the spring game in 1991. Three weeks later, he won the Big Eight shot put title with a throw of 58-3.

1990 (Redshirt Sophomore)
After sitting out the 1989 season as a medical redshirt to repair a neck injury suffered as a high school athlete, Lewis returned to 100 percent for an outstanding season. He rushed 47 times for 198 yards while playing in all 11 regular-season games. He shared the top fullback spot with Omar Soto and the duo helped the Big Red lead the Big Eight in rushing (340.0 ypg), total offense (444.4 ypg) and scoring (37.5 ppg). Lewis started six games, including each of the final five contests. Lewis also caught three passes for 39 yards on the year. His top rushing game of the season came with 32 yards on four carries in a win over Missouri.

1989 (Redshirt)
Lewis sat out the 1989 season after undergoing neck surgery. 

1988 (Freshman)
A scholarship recruit, Lewis moved up to the varsity shortly after his arrival on campus. He saw action in all 12 games with the Big Red, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. He helped the Huskers capture the Big Eight championship. He also played against Miami in the 1989 Orange Bowl. His best game came with 50 yards at Kansas, when he also scored on a five-yard touchdown run. Lewis began the season as NU’s No. 3 fullback behind Sam Schmidt and Bryan Carpenter, but Lewis moved up to the alternate spot for the last seven games after Schmidt suffered a broken leg at UCLA. Lewis also contributed on special teams, recording two unassisted tackles.

Scott City High School
An all-state fullback and linebacker for Coach Dave Dunham, Lewis rushed for 1,600 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading his conference in tackles with 133 (88 solos). He powered Scott City to the state playoffs for the first time in 13 yards. The USA Today Kansas Player of the Year, Lewis had a rare triple at the Kansas state track and field meet by sweeping the 100 and 200-meter dashes while also winning the state shot put title. He scored 30 of Scott City’s 60 team points on its way to a Kansas Class 4A state track title.

Personal
The son of Bob Lewis, Lance was born March 27, 1970.