They like to call him Eric Decker.

Although Ben Lewis’ stats might not warrant the comparison to one of his favorite NFL wide receivers, his Syracuse teammates say his work ethic does.

“He just came in and never said anything, just worked his balls off,” said Terrel Hunt, SU’s starting quarterback and Lewis’ roommate. “He just goes out there, he competes and does what he has to do.”

For an achy Syracuse (2-2) receiving group, Lewis has been a mainstay. Ashton Broyld is sidelined with a leg injury and Brisly Estime is out this weekend with a sprained ankle, and Lewis’ role out wide shouldn’t dwindle anytime soon. The junior has been one of the Orange’s more consistent receiving options, contributes on three special teams units and has played through pain, the last of which has caught the attention of SU head coach Scott Shafer.

With high-level football in his blood, Lewis came into this season with just one collegiate reception to his name. Now he’s tied with Broyld for second on the team with 11 catches on the year and he’s the only receiver with multiple catches in each of SU’s four games.

“Ben’s creating a role for himself,” offensive coordinator George McDonald said. “He’s a guy that works hard every day and every day he adds a little bit more to his plate and every day he maximizes his opportunity.

“He’s an example for everybody in our program.”

Lewis had his biggest game of the season thus far against Notre Dame on Saturday, taking a fourth-quarter pass over the middle from Hunt and picking up a chunk of 46 yards.

But his performance at MetLife Stadium wasn’t the first time a member of his family played in an NFL stadium.

His uncle, Bill Lewis, played seven years in the NFL after an All-American career at Nebraska. He always reminded his nephew he played against Howie Long when the NFL analyst was on FOX’s Sundays broadcasts. Lewis’ cousin Alex, Bill’s son, now starts for the same Cornhusker offensive line on which Bill earned All-American honors.

“Football was always ingrained into us,” Lewis said.

Lewis’ older brother played at Kansas State and visits to watch him play are some of Lewis’ fondest memories of living in Kansas — the source of his Midwest accent — for the first six years of his life.

But Lewis himself couldn’t play organized football until sixth grade. The rule, mandated by his father throughout his family, put a temporary hold on Lewis’ football career, limiting it to backyard catches with his dad.

“So we had to play soccer and go out and beat people up on the soccer field,” Lewis said.

Yet once Lewis joined a football team, his versatility became clear. He started as a running back in middle school, then branched into receiving, special teams and defense as a linebacker and safety at Middletown (Maryland) High School.

After picking the Orange over Connecticut, East Carolina and a late push from Maryland, Lewis is still a flexible contributor.

In addition to his role as a wideout, he’s on Syracuse’s kickoff, kickoff return and punt return units.

“Staying busy,” he said with a laugh.

But he’s most occupied as a wide receiver.

Though Lewis hasn’t hauled in more than three catches in a game yet this season, he’s content with the Orange’s distribution to its receiving options.

Currently, Lewis said he’s more focused on preparing for opposing defenses than working on his own skills. As long as he keeps finding holes in the opposing secondary, his roommate has no reason not to throw him the ball.

“Ben has a weird way of getting open,” Hunt said. “What’s so good about him is that he does the basic things really well. He takes pride in going to the spot and sitting there and having that connection with me.

“That’s what makes him a great receiver.”

Published on October 2, 2014 at 12:20 am

Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb