Ray Lewis is out of the NFL and now he will focus on grooming his son Ray Lewis III as he sets off to follow his father's footsteps after committing to the Miami Hurricanes. Though a comparison isn't fair, it is a question that will be asked over and over again. Can Lewis III have the same impact or be half the man his father was in college and in the pros?
First of all, what makes the comparison tough is that the two don't even play the same position, although because it's high school, Lewis III has some experience on defense.
Lewis III is a running back, his father was a linebacker that spent two years in Miami. Both father and son were present at the signing ceremony as Lewis III officially became a Hurricane.
Lewis promised his son he would be around more often after he entered college. That was one of the driving points that pushed Lewis to retirement as he announced it to the public before the start of the NFL playoffs. Lewis mentioned he planned on being a man and honoring his word to his son who will kickoff his freshman season in 2013.
Lewis III is a highly touted running back out of Lake Mary Preparatory School in Florida. He's 5' 10" and 192 pounds. He finished his junior season with 2,312 rushing yards on 171 carries, that's only a little over than 13 yards per carry. He finished with 29 rushing and four receiving touchdowns.
Of course, for Lewis, what matters is what his son does to influence players around him. More than filling up the stat sheet, Lewis III's pressures will be setting the example for other players and being a leader in their clubhouse.
He can't mess up, not with how he plays, but with the manner in which he carries himself. Of course, at the end of the day stats will count. You don't get drafted solely on great demeanor, but Lewis III will be expected to do it all and be smarter than his father who almost blew away his entire career after winning the Super Bowl in 2000.
Remember his name, it's not hard to remember; Ray Lewis III running back for the Miami Hurricanes. One Lewis leaves the spotlight as his seed will try to build on what his father left behind.
