Previous A&M RB Lewis passes away from cancer at 55

• Dave Wilson, ESPN Personnel WriterJun 21, 2024, 03:25 PM ET

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  Dave Wilson is an editor for ESPN.com since 2010. He formerly operated at The Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.Darren Lewis, the

Texas A&M star who broke Eric Dickerson’s Southwest Conference hurrying record before addiction hindered his football career and post-football life, passed away Thursday night from cancer. He was 55. Lewis, who was a star at Dallas ‘powerhouse Carter High School, was among the nation’s top potential customers in 1987, frequently mentioned together with Emmitt Smith. He rushed for 5,012 lawns 1987-90, breaking Dickerson’s mark (formerly held by Earl Campbell)of 4,450 yards, before bowl statistics were included. He finished his career fifth on the NCAA career rushing list, behind Tony Dorsett, Charles White, Herschel Walker and Archie Griffin.A two-time All-American while in College Station, “Tank, “as he was understood because of his penalizing running design, is still 1,309 yards ahead of 2nd place on the career rushing list at Texas A&M. However throughout the NFL draft procedure, Lewis stated he was exposed to cocaine at celebrations, and by prospective representatives, and was

guaranteed he would check clean. Rather, he was the only player who evaluated favorable for drug at the combine, and his stock plummeted to the 6th round, where he was drafted by the Chicago Bears, who declared they did not know of his negative test, and was sent to rehab.He began just 5 games among his 33 appearances in the NFL for the Bears, hurrying for 431 backyards in his profession. He never ever stopped working a drug test, however he was detained on domestic battery charges and released in 1993. Lewis’fall from grace surprised his previous coaches, Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum, who stayed in touch with Lewis.

“I just believe he is among those guys that would fall into with his buddies, some bad impacts,”Slocum stated. “He was strong and tough on the football field, but there wasn’t a mean bone in his body in terms of simply being tough to handle. He was always so, so respectful. I understand Jackie would say the exact same thing. “After his NFL profession ended, Lewis returned to Dallas to try to straighten his life, but he continued to deal with dependency. He informed Texas A&M’s 12th Male Publication he had lost all of his money and his house by 1995, then was detained for the very first time on shoplifting charges in 1998. He was apprehended once again in 2004, 2005 and 2006, landing in state jail on burglary charges, and was released in 2010. In 2014, he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for a string of heists at hotels and corner store, consisting of shooting a 7-Eleven cashier in the leg, which Lewis claimed was a mishap.” I was selfish. I simply wanted what Darren Lewis desired and I didn’t consider the people I might be injuring,”Lewis told the Bryan-College Station Eagle last week.” It was everything about what I wanted at that time.” Lewis was sent to prison in Pollock, Louisiana, where he developed a mass on his shoulder that later burst and was identified to be metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, which begins as skin cancer and later infects organs.He was relocated to a prison in North Carolina for healthcare before being released in 2015 as part of a compassionate release program.Lewis told the Eagle last week while he was in hospice care that he was grateful for the long sentence since it permitted him to turn his life around in prison. Slocum, who shares a birthday with Lewis, said they would call each other every year on Nov. 7, and said he had seen a changed male in Lewis’final years.” Here towards the end, he’s probably in as great a shape to face what he’s facing now,”Slocum stated.”He’s been very strong individual of faith. I increased and saw him few weeks back, and he had his Bible right there on the table beside him.

I’m pleased he’s not needing to suffer any longer. He was battling it. He approached that similar to he did football. He played as tough as he could, played right to the end.”Lewis said that he hoped his life would be a lesson to others.” I encourage the youths to use me as an example,”Lewis told the paper.”Making the incorrect choice could cost you your profession, your life, your family and your buddies. It does not cost you anything to make the right choices, but make one

wrong decision and it might cost you your life.”