CMU RB Kobe Lewis enters transfer portal
Central Michigan running back Kobe Lewis has entered the transfer portal, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports. He will be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer.
Lewis suffered a preseason knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2021 season. Heading into the 2022 campaign, he had been rehabbing the injury in Atlanta, Georgia near his hometown of Americus.
Prior to the news of his transfer, coach Jim McElwain said he would be available when the team began summer workouts. Lewis was expected to be an important player at running back next to Lew Nichols III, who is the reigning NCAA leader in rushing yards.
Nichols was the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-MAC selection in 2021.
In four seasons with the Chippewas, Lewis rushed for 1,579 yards and 18 touchdowns. His top showing came in 2019, when he rushed for 1,074 yards as the secondary option behind Jonathan Ward.
In 2020, he managed to run for 468 yards and six scores in the six-game season that was shortened due to the COVID-pandemic.
With Lewis in the portal, Nichols will remain the top back. Aside from the Detroit native, CMU has sophomores Marion Lukes and Myles Bailey as returning options. Lukes earned third team All-MAC honors as a return man in 2021.
Other running back options include sophomore Jake Tafelski, redshirt freshman Christian Brown and incoming freshman Jordan Ramsey.
