Myron Lewis is likely to be selected in the 2010 NFL Draft. Trying to talk to him about the NFL when there are still games yet to be played, though, is like trying to beat a garage door at tennis.
As the sun sets on the esteemed cornerback’s Vanderbilt career, he remains focused only on this week’s opponent, Kentucky.
“I’ve just got to finish these last two games out,” Lewis said. “Wherever I land, I land… I’m not really worried about that.”
This season has been anything but kind to the Commodores, but Lewis plans on sending the rest of the seniors out on the right note with these last two games, especially against Tennessee. No members of the senior class have been on the field for a win over the Vols.
Wins over Kentucky and Tennessee would go a long way in salvaging the season and instilling hope for 2010, as well as giving the senior class a proper sendoff.
“We’ve got to go out with a bang,” Lewis said. “The season’s been kind of rocky… We just have to stick it out together and be prepared to take this game to the best of our abilities and try to win.”
For Lewis, it would be an ideal ending to a highly productive four-year stretch at Vanderbilt. As a three-year starter, Lewis has amassed nine interceptions and broken up 25 passes, playing a major role in a Vanderbilt pass defense that has been one of the team’s major strengths in recent years.
Lewis remains humble, attributing a good portion of his success to the coaching staff.
“[Vanderbilt’s been] amazing,” Lewis said. “I had an opportunity to come here and play as a freshman. I’ve been starting at cornerback for three years, and Coach [Jamie] Bryant gave me the best opportunity to make it to the next level and make it on the college level.”
Lewis will have plenty of guidance as he prepares for that next level. Two of Lewis’s brothers, Hamin Milligan and Hanik Milligan, have played professional football. At the very least, the Draft represents an opportunity for Lewis to follow in his brothers’ footsteps.
“[It helps] just having four older brothers there to support me,” Lewis said. “They’ve been the struggles I’ve been through and I can see where they’ve been at and learn from what they did, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Even though Lewis’s focus remains on the season at hand, a new chapter in his life beckons, and Lewis is ready to answer the call.
“As it comes down to my last two games, and this is my last year playing college football, I’m kind of excited,” Lewis said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunities ahead of me. I can’t wait.”
