Few college football programs have churned out the amount of top NFL prospects that the LSU Tigers can boast in recent years, and this year’s draft class is sure to be no different.
If your favorite NFL team is looking for a dominant interior blocker to add to their offensive line, Damien Lewis should be high on their priority list.
Fresh off a national title, Lewis recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the experience of playing for the Bayou Bengals, blocking for a Heisman-winning quarterback in Joe Burrow, and what kind of impact he’ll have at the next level.
JM: National Champion Damien Lewis has a nice ring to it, no? How does it feel?
DL: It feels great. You grow up dreaming of winning a National Championship. We went 15-0. We were a great team and it’s a wonderful feeling. It definitely feels like a blessing. We had a special group of guys.
JM: You have so much experience as a starting guard, and you were one of the leaders of an explosive offense. How does that experience serve you well going forward?
DL: I’ve always been a team-first guy. I keep my head in the playbook and I’m ready to handle anything that comes my way. I always tried to be a guy that makes the pieces to the puzzle fit. I’m always ready to help somebody if they don’t understand what’s going on. I always tried to get the young guys fired up. I wanted them to understand that they could contribute to the team. They’re capable of stepping up as well. I wanted to take them on the ride with us.
I just try to lead by example. I tried to help the young guys understand that there was a lot at stake for us all. Everybody has a role to play and everybody could step up. You have to trust in each other and make sure everybody is accountable and reliable. I came to practice every day ready to work and get better.
JM: You’ve made 27 straight starts next to Lloyd Cushenberry III. Perhaps a team should draft the both of you and keep you together at the next level.
DL: I hope they do. It would be great for everybody involved. Lloyd and I have great chemistry. We’re so used to playing next to one another. We have a great friendship. We’ve formed a great bond over the years. Like you said, we made 27 straight starts together. We always knew what was going on. The communication between us comes so naturally. We’ve reached that point. We see everything out there. We’re the generals of the field.
JM: What’s it like playing for coach Ed Orgeron?
DL: Coach O is a great coach, and an even better man. It was amazing to play for him. He’s the one who recruited me out of Mississippi in the first place. He came to me at Northwest Mississippi Community College and told me that he wanted me to be a Tiger. That moment changed my life. That’s my guy forever.
JM: Do you have a preferred scheme fit at the next level?
DL: I really don’t. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll be happy to go wherever and play for whoever drafts me. I’m gonna make the best of it. We ran a little bit of everything at LSU. We ran some zone blocking, we did some wide zone, some inside zone. We ran some gap blocking as well. It doesn’t matter. LSU prepared me for everything. I’ve played for different coaches and different offensive coordinators. We did a little bit of everything. I’ll be able to adapt to whatever at the next level. I’m thankful for that. Whatever my pro team asks me to do, I’ve seen it at some point in time.
JM: Playing at LSU afforded you the opportunity to play against the best competition college football had to offer. Who are some of the best pass rushers you’ve gone up against?
DL: Derrick Brown from Auburn immediately comes to mind. He was definitely the best one. I’ve played against some great players, but Derrick Brown is definitely the one.
JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?
DL: I wanna put you on the ground on every single play. I wanna get off the ball and take you out of the play. I’m gonna move you off your spot and out of your gap. I’m gonna take your will from you. The first goal is to get you out of the way, the second goal is to keep on mauling you through the whistle. That goes for both the pass and run game.
JM: Do you have a preferred pass set?
DL: I just enjoy coming off the ball. I love a good quick-step and make sure I move you down the line. Timing and placement are everything. A good punch goes a long way. I wanna get my hands on you and move you.
JM: Is Joe Burrow the best quarterback in the draft?
DL: Come on, now. You already know he is.
JM: You had an opportunity to block for him every day in practice. You prepared on a weekly basis with him. What was all that like?
DL: It was a blessing to block for him. It was a blessing to be his teammate. I was blocking for a Heisman quarterback. I never thought I’d have such an opportunity. I never thought I’d be able to say such a thing. We went undefeated and we won the National Championship. It was a blessing to play beside him and to block for him. That’s my quarterback. I had to block for him and I gave it my all. It was a blessing to be on a team with him.
JM: What kind of impact is Damien Lewis going to make at the next level?
DL: I’m a guy that’s come in ready to embrace a leadership role. I’m a vocal leader. I always put my best foot forward and commit myself. I’m gonna give it my all. I love to compete and I love playing for my teammates. I’m gonna play at a high level because I love the game of football.
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