Ronnell Anthony Lewis (born September 17, 1990) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was a
linebacker
Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...
in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners are the college athletics in the United States , athletic teams that represent the University of Oklahoma, located in Norman, Oklahoma, Norman. The 19 men's and women's varsity teams are called the "Sooners", a reference to ...
and was selected by the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
in the fourth round of the
2012 NFL draft
The 2012 NFL draft was the 77th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players for their rosters. The draft, which is officially called the "NFL Player Selection Meeting", was held ...
.
Early life
Lewis attended
Dewar High School
Dewar is a town in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 763 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Founded in 1909 by workers for the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway#Missouri, Oklahoma ...
in Dewar, Oklahoma, where he accounted for 2,219 yards on 150 rushes with 33 touchdowns in 2008 along with 156 tackles while he picked off 11 passes on defense and added 2,000 yards and 40 rushing touchdowns as a junior.
College career
Known for his big hits, Oklahoma Sooner fans have nicknamed Lewis "the Hammer". He rose to national prominence after two big hits on special teams against Stanford in the 2009 Sun Bowl. Lewis followed up a promising freshman season with a stellar sophomore campaign in 2010 in which he logged 3.5 sacks, 37 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and a 12-yard interception return for a touchdown against the
Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears are the athletic teams that represent Baylor University. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as one of only three private school members of the Big 12 Conference. Prior t ...
despite only starting four games. In the 2012 NFL Combine, Ronnell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68s and performed 36 repetitions of 225 lbs.
Professional career
Detroit Lions
In the 2012 NFL draft, Lewis was selected with the 125th overall pick (30th pick of the 4th round) to the Detroit Lions.
On August 25, 2013, he was released by the Detroit Lions.
Toronto Argonauts
On September 10, 2013, Lewis was signed by the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...
of the
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...
to a practice roster agreement. He was released by the Argonauts on October 2, 2013.
Oklahoma Defenders
On November 26, 2013, Lewis was signed by the
Oklahoma Defenders
The Oklahoma Defenders were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Defenders played their home games at the Cox Business Center.
It wa ...
of the
Champions Professional Indoor Football League
The Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) was an indoor football minor league based along the Midwestern United States region. The league began play in February 2013. In August 2014, the CPIFL and Lone Star Football League (LSFL) ...
for the 2014 season.
Boston Brawlers
Lewis played for the
Boston Brawlers
The Boston Brawlers were a professional American football team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The team was based at Harvard Stadium in Boston as the Boston Brawlers, and were a charter member of the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL), whi ...
of the
Fall Experimental Football League
The Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) was a professional football minor league that played two seasons in 2014 and 2015. This league's stated goal was to become a professional feeder-system for the National Football League (NFL).
The le ...
in Fall 2014.
Spokane Shock
On December 3, 2014, Lewis was assigned to the
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock were a professional indoor American football team based in Spokane, Washington, that played their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The team was initially a member of arenafootball2 (af2), the Shock won divis ...
of the
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
.
Los Angeles KISS
On March 14, 2015, Lewis was traded to the
Los Angeles KISS
The Los Angeles Kiss (stylized as LA KISS) were a professional arena football team based in Anaheim, California, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Kiss joined the AFL as an expansion team after Los Angeles' previous franchise ( ...
in exchange for Rod Harper. He was placed on reassignment on May 19, 2015.
Spokane Empire
On September 11, 2015, Lewis signed with Spokane again, but this team with the new
Spokane Empire
Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...
of the
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional indoor American football league in the United States. The league comprises 14 teams, divided equally between the Eastern Conference (EC) and Western Conference ...