Published: August 08, 2009 11:43 pm         

OU's Lewis made most of opportunity

NORMAN — Oklahoma’s Travis Lewis’ face lighted up when asked about the Sooners’ newly-found depth at linebacker.

“It’s good to know that when one of us goes down somebody will step right back up in our place,’’ said Lewis, OU’s starting weakside linebacker.

Lewis knows where he speaks.

A year ago, he came into fall practice as the backup to Enid’s Austin Box. When Box missed the season opener because of a knee injury, Lewis stepped in to become one of the Sooners’ Cinderella stories.

He was selected the Associated Press’ Big 12 Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year and was the coaches’ defensive freshman of the year.

Lewis earned All-Big 12 honors after breaking Brian Bosworth’s freshman school record with 144 tackles, including 11.5 for losses. He intercepted four passes.

“When you have the opportunity,’’ he said, “you have to take full advantage of it. You have to go out and take it.’’

He exceeded his own expectations.

“You never think of that (individual honors),’’ Lewis said. “You always think of what you can do to help the team and what you can do to step in.’’

Lewis tries to emulate the play of former Sooner All-American linebackers Rocky Calmus and Teddy Lehman. He was a fan of former Texas great Derrick Johnson while growing up in San Antonio, Texas.

“Teddy Lehman was a hard-working guy who played hard and it showed,’’ Lewis said. “That’s the way I like to play.’’

Lewis met Lehman when the former Sooner — now with the United Football League’s Las Vegas franchise — worked out with OU in 2007, Lewis’ true freshman year.

“I liked to talk with him and asked him what he did and what he was doing,’’ Lewis said.

Lehman advised Lewis to have a short memory.

“Everybody has tough days,’’ Lewis said. “You have days when you mess up. You have to keep your head up.’’

Lewis is excited about the return of middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds, whose season ended with a torn ACL in the Sooners’ 45-35 loss to Texas last October.

Lewis was noticeably shaken after the game when talking about Reynolds’ injury. Having him back puts a little extra bounce in Lewis’ step.

“He’s looking really good,’’ Lewis said. “That gives me a little more self confidence. He knows the defense almost as well as coach V (defensive coordinator Brent Venables). He makes me so much better being out there with him. We’re always on the same page.’’

With Reynolds, Lewis feels he will “have a lot more freedom.’’

“You can take some chances because we are on the same page,’’ Lewis said. “We have a lot of trust in each other.’’

The Sooners defense was often criticized a year ago, especially after Reynolds’ return, for giving up too many big plays.

A more experienced unit should correct some of the mistakes they made a year ago, Venables said.

“We anticipate we can be really great,’’ Lewis said. “The pieces are all there. We just have to put them together. Potential is a bad word. We have all the potential in the world, we have to do it. We got a lot of great players on this team so we should be able to.’’

Lewis has gone from potentially good to star within a year’s time.

“It’s a lot different from last year,’’ he said. “Just playing gives us 10 times more confidence. You gain the trust of coaches and teammates. You take it a step up.’’

Lewis’ goal is the national championship that eluded the Sooners a year ago in a 24-14 loss to Florida.

“We can’t worry about the past,’’ he said. “If we handle our business, everything can happen. We want to be a better defense.’’

Lewis and the Sooners open the season Sept. 5 against Brigham Young at Arlington, Texas.