University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Dion Lewis Named a Walter Camp Award Candidate
8/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 9, 2010
PITTSBURGH--Coming off one of the greatest seasons ever for a freshman running back, Pitt's Dion Lewis has received plenty of recognition heading into the 2010 campaign.
Lewis added yet another preseason accolade today when he was named to the watch list for the prestigious Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He is one of 30 players named a top candidate for the honor, which is presented annually by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Previously, Lewis was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is also presented to the collegiate player of the year.
The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Lewis (Albany, N.Y./Blair Academy [N.J.]) ranked third nationally in rushing last year (138.38 yards/game). He was named to no fewer than eight postseason All-America teams and also earned Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
Lewis' running style and high production sparked comparisons to some of the top backs in school history. He finished with 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns on 325 carries (5.5 avg.), the second highest yardage in Pitt annals. Only the legendary Tony Dorsett, who eclipsed 2,000 yards during his 1976 Heisman Trophy campaign, rushed for more yards in a single season at Pitt.
Quipped Dorsett, who was the 1976 recipient of the Walter Camp Player of the Year honor: "He (Lewis) has what I call the `Wow!' effect. When he comes through those big defensive linemen and he's still running, it's like, `Wow!' What I like most is he has no ego. He just runs the ball."
Another all-time Pitt great, Curtis Martin, said after seeing Lewis play, "There's no doubt that he has amazing talent. I think that he's the best to come through there since Tony Dorsett.
"This guy has something special about him," Martin continued. "The best thing he can do is if he continues to work hard, I think he has the chance to outdo everyone who has come through Pitt, maybe except Dorsett."
For more information on Lewis, as well as video highlights, go to www.DionLewis28.com.
The Walter Camp watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November. The 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 120 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on the 6 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday, Dec. 9.
The Pitt football team is a fixture in the preseason Top 25 rankings after winning 10 games last year, including a 19-17 victory over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Panthers begin the 2010 season with one of the most exciting openers in college football when they play at perennially strong Utah on Thursday, Sept. 2. The game will be a national telecast on Versus.
For ticket information, call the Pitt Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT or log on to www.PittsburghPanthers.com.
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