Jourdan Lewis the Nation's Top Cornerback Season Highlights
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Jourdan Lewis The Nation’s Top Cornerback Season Highlights • Had been targeted just 31 times through 11 games, showing how teams throw away from him; allowed just 8 receptions for 78 yards, and has surrendered just 13 total yards after the catch • Allowing just 0.36 yards per snap in coverage, among the best in the nation according to PFF College • Physically gets his hands on the ball more often than the receivers he's covering: has 2 interceptions and 9 pass breakups (11 total PBU's) while surrendering 8 receptions • Has collected at least one pass breakup in six of his eight games played this season; held out of the first three games due to injury prior to fall camp • Tallied an interception, one tackle for loss and four solo stops in a rivalry game at Michigan State • Recorded a season-high three pass breakups against Maryland the following weekend • Collected an electrifying one-handed interception that secured the victory against Wisconsin; also posted four tackles and one pass breakup against the Badgers Team Defensive Highlights • Major contributor on Michigan’s top-rated defense that list No. 1 nationally in six categories – scoring defense, total defense, pass defense, third down defense, tackles for loss and first downs allowed. • Helps direct a defense that lists in the top 12 nationally in all 11 defensive categories • Leader in Michigan’s secondary that has helped unit rank as the top pass defense the last two seasons (No. 3 in pass defense and No. 1 in pass efficiency last season) Record Watch • Team’s active career leader in pass breakups • Tied the most career pass breakups in Michigan history (43), sitting atop the list with Leon Hall • Set Michigan’s season record for pass breakups with 22 during the 2015 season Awards Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist 2016 Preseason All-American selection Returning first-team All-American from 2015 What They are Saying About Jourdan Lewis • “He’s the best corner in the country. That makes everybody’s job a lot easier when you’ve got a guy out there that shuts down half the field. It’s expected from him. It’s not like ‘Oh, good job, Jourdan.’ No, we expect that from him. Jourdan inspires me to play better.” Michigan Junior Linebacker Jabrill Peppers -- August 7, 2016 • “Jourdan Lewis making that kind of play, that kind of athletic play, Michael Jordan would be proud, the way he hung in the air. It’s something Jourdan will remember the rest of his life. I’ll remember it until they throw dirt over top of me. It was that kind of thrilling play.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- October 1, 2016 • “Heck of a football player, but he’s also a leader. Guys respect him and they know how hard he’s worked the last three-to-four week to be back to being in this position. Just a plus-plus to have him back in there.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- Week of September 24, 2016 • “I see him make a lot of plays, but that was on another level I think. I think he jumped and then floated for five yards. Somehow he just caught it with one hand. But that’s a guy that’s going to be playing on Sundays for a long time. Glad he’s on our team.” Michigan Quarterback Wilton Speight -- October 1, 2016 • “He’s doing a fantastic job. The guy’s been a stud. Jourdan’s been a real stud in everything that he’s done. In every preparation he’s made in the off-season, in everything that he’s doing now to put him in a position to have success. It’s all been A- plus-plus. I hope he reaps some of the rewards from all of the hard work he’s put in.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- Week of September 24, 2016 • “I don’t know why they haven’t been letting Jourdan play both ways. Jourdan is one of the craziest athletes I’ve ever seen. We have different body types and playing styles, but Jourdan could be just as efficient on offense as he is on defense. I’ve covered him, he’s covered me. So we speak from experience when we say that.” Michigan Junior Linebacker Jabrill Peppers -- August 7, 2016 • “He’s got exceptional quickness, foot speed, ball skills and the physical nature with which he plays. Nost for football. He’s really a football player. He’s got a great demeanor as a football player. He’s quiet but confident. All aspects, you see him blossoming. It’s really a great experience. There’s so much that he can do. And I think he’s finding out right now all the things that he’s capable of doing and how many ways he can help a football team.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- Week of October 8, 2016 • “He has great athleticism. He plays full speed, every practice, every play, every game. I’m not surprised he has become as good as he is.” Detroit Cass Tech Head Coach Thomas Wilcher (Jourdan's HS Coach) -- August, 2016 • “He’s a pure athlete. He’s a kid that can adapt and is flexible with great instincts, and he has a high IQ of football. He understands the games, he understands the routes.” Detroit Cass Tech Head Coach Thomas Wilcher (Jourdan's HS Coach) -- August, 2016 • “Jourdan Lewis who has been at every practice, every drill. Competitor who wants to get better every single day. He doesn’t take time off. He doesn’t diminish his effort at any time.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- Big Ten Media Days; July 25-26 • “He’s an ascending player, improving player. And when he started to get the recognition of being a really good player, All-American, All-Big Ten, interceptions and when he started getting the acclaim, he didn’t change a bit. He went through the entire spring practice wanting to get better, wanting to improve every single day.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- Big Ten Media Days; July 25-26 • “He’s just a pleasure to be around. (There’s) not one bit of incident or problem when it comes to Jourdan Lewis. And he’s a likable guy. He’s respected by everybody on the team, but he also has the personality of being very competitive but being very likable with his teammates, because he doesn’t act like the big man on campus. He doesn’t act like the All-American. Just a very good person in all respects.” J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh -- Big Ten Media Days; July 25-26 • “He just really adapts to coaching technique and style. He really did tune into the details of being a great player. If you watch him, you talk about positioning and footwork and his hips and shoulders. He really takes his game seriously.” Detroit Cass Tech Head Coach Thomas Wilcher (Jourdan's HS Coach) -- August, 2016 • “The most important thing I look at, the intangibles, he has them. He has a great vertical jump, he has great speed, and he has long arms and a great wingspan. The most important thing that stands out to me regarding Jourdan Lew, is the day (Alabama coach) Nick Saban met Jourdan (at a camp in Alabama). He thought he was the most incredible athlete he met by far...He’s always been doing spectacular things.” Detroit Cass Tech Head Coach Thomas Wilcher (Jourdan's HS Coach) -- August, 2016 .