ASU running back Jason Lewis announces he will transfer
Nov 27, 2016, 10:50 AM | Updated: 11:10 am
(AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)
One of Arizona State’s prized recruits from 2015 announced Sunday he will transfer from Todd Graham’s program.
Redshirt freshman running back Jason Lewis posted a message on Twitter announcing he will leave the Sun Devils and search for a team that he “fit in and will be used well.
“My reason for leaving is not any bad blood between people or anything. I just believe I didn’t fit into the system,” he wrote.
— J Lew (@Jason_ALewis) November 27, 2016
The former 4-star recruit and U.S. Army All-American Bowl game invitee was the third-highest ranked recruit in Graham’s 2015 recruiting class. Per 247 Sports, only backup quarterback Brady White and defensive end JoJo Wicker were ranked higher.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound back had dabbled playing linebacker in fall camp and played in only two games this year without recording a tackle.
Lewis never caught on at running back behind Demario Richard, Kalen Ballage and even fellow redshirt freshman Nick Ralston. In 2015, he also lost opportunities with Gump Hayes playing running back before Hayes switched to the defensive side of the ball to play cornerback this season.
Out of Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Va., Lewis was listed as a three-star athlete by ESPN and chose the Sun Devils over Nebraska, Ole Miss and Florida.
Already, the 2015 signing class for Graham has seen its fare share of losses, especially when it comes to top recruits.
Junior college transfer and linebacker Davon Durant, who was regarded by some as the best talent, never made it to campus after he was involved in a domestic violence incident. Cornerback Stanley Norman, also a U.S. Army All-American, never qualified.
Quarterback Bryce Perkins was lost to a serious injury this year and had to brush off rumors of a transfer.
All were rated by at least one service as a 4-star prospect in the 2015 recruiting class.