Tyquan Lewis

Tyquan Lewis's Biography

Tyquan Lewis, one of the most accomplished American professional football players, was born on January 30, 1995. He currently plays as a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, a team in the renowned National Football League (NFL). His extraordinary journey starts from his early years in high school football to his selected position in the NFL in the later years.

As an outstanding high school football player for Tarboro High School located in Tarboro, North Carolina, Lewis was part of several state championship teams. He showcased his extraordinary abilities and leadership skills on the ground, which ultimately earned him the honor of being named to the Associated Press’ North Carolina all-football team in his senior year. These commendable achievements led to Lewis being rated a four-star prospect, an incredibly high evaluation by major recruiting services.

After graduating from high school in 2013, Lewis committed to Ohio State University on September 20, 2012, after receiving scholarship offers from other prestigious institutes such as Louisiana State University, the University of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Clemson University. He faced a bit of opposition initially from his worried mother due to the university’s considerable distance from North Carolina. Convincing her took a while, but ultimately she supported his decision.

At Ohio State, during his redshirt freshman year, Lewis made remarkable strides in becoming an all-rounded player. He appeared in every game either on defense or by performing a small but important role on special teams, recording nine tackles in the season. The following year, as a sophomore, Lewis truly began showing his potential. He led his team in quarterback sacks with eight and trailed only behind Joey Bosa in tackles for loss with fourteen.

Despite a reluctant labrum injury from the previous spring that required a surgical procedure, he was victorious in helping his team, the Buckeyes, win their eighth National Championship in the first College Football Playoff in January 2015. Lewis’ standout performances didn’t go unnoticed as he received an Honorable Mention on the 2015 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

In 2016, he recorded 7.5 sacks and helped secure an important win against Wisconsin. This year was influential for Lewis as he received first-team 2016 All-Big Ten Conference honours and was distinguished as the Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year. An emerging leader both on and off the field, Lewis decided to forego the 2017 NFL draft to return to OSU for his senior season.

Before his final season, Lewis was named a Big Ten Preseason Honouree. He recorded 5 quarterback sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss that year. This led to Lewis being bestowed with a spot on the first team of the 2017 All-Big Ten Conference football team. He also tied with the Ohio State football record for featuring in 55 games.

In the 2018 Senior Bowl, he delivered impressive results with one and a half sacks including a strip-sack he accomplished with Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. Lewis attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, post which he was projected to be a third or fourth-round pick by most NFL draft experts and scouts.

The Indianapolis Colts seized the opportunity to recruit this efficient player in the second round (64th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. Lewis eventually signed a four-year, $4.36 million contract with the Colts on May 11, 2018. However, a toe injury in September and a knee injury in 2021 briefly halted his journey as he was placed on injured reserve.

In March 2022, Lewis signed a one-year, $3 million contract extension with the Colts. However, he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in Week 8 and was once again placed on injured reserve. This setback didn’t last long as Lewis re-signed with the Colts the following year. His contribution in the 2023 season was significant as he played in all 17 games, recording 25 tackles and four sacks. For his significant contributions that year, he was named the team’s 2023 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

As he continues to deliver phenomenal performances, the Colts signed Lewis to a two-year contract extension in March 2024. Besides being an extraordinary sportsperson, Lewis also plays an integral part in his large family consisting of four brothers and a sister, establishing his stature as a commendable player and an equally remarkable person.