Why Aaron Lewis wanted to return to Rutgers for one more season and delay NFL future
PISCATAWAY – Aaron Lewis had a decision to make, one that would shape his future and determine when his NFL hopes became a reality.
The Rutgers football defensive end could’ve decided that four years in a Scarlet Knights uniform were enough, that it was time to pursue the next level.
But Lewis decided he wasn’t finished at Rutgers.
Not just yet.
“I just feel like there’s a lot of unfinished business for me personally,” Lewis said following Rutgers’ practice on Thursday. “I obviously know there’s more I’m capable of in terms of production during the season.”
Lewis had discussions with coach Greg Schiano, and ultimately determined that he would benefit from using his final year of eligibility. And with that decision comes the chance to play in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28 at Yankee Stadium (2:15 p.m., ESPN), where Rutgers will play the University of Miami.
“It’s a blessing, if I’m being honest,” Lewis said. “I don’t know what a bowl game’s like. I’m excited. I’ve never played in something like this before.”
Rutgers defense will run it back in 2024 with key contributors
Lewis’ decision to return for 2024 means that Rutgers’ defense will have yet another major contributor returning – linebacker Tyreem Powell, whose season was cut short because of a hand injury, and defensive end Wesley Bailey have also announced they’re returning for another season.
They were key pieces of a defense that ranked 27th in the nation in points allowed per game (21.0).
“I feel weight-wise, strength-wise, I can get the final touches I’d like to do with my body and my strength with this last year,” Lewis said. “I just feel like you see certain people on our team coming back, having a chance to do it one more time with your brothers and the people you came in kind of drives you a little bit, having that end success.”
Lewis, a Williamstown native, this season finished with 48 tackles (five for loss) with three sacks and two pass breakups. He said he didn’t feel that was the most productive he could be.
Also contributing to Lewis’ decision was the situation surrounding defensive line coach Marquise Watson, who suffered a health event in the days prior to Rutgers’ season-opener against Northwestern and has been away from the team.
OFFSEASON TRACKER Transfer portal, recruiting news, NFL decisions and a bowl game
Lewis and Watson have a close relationship. Not having Watson throughout the season was tough on Lewis.
“Coach Watson’s like the brother I never really had,” Lewis said. “I have a really close relationship with him. He had a really close relationship with my mom before she passed. Obviously what happened was unfortunate and every day we pray for his health. I kind of wanted, for me personally, I depended a lot on Coach Watson. He gave corrections on the sideline, how we meshed as coach to player was something different. When that wasn’t there, I felt a little lost in a way.”
Now Lewis is hoping to reclaim that in 2024.
“We’ve had great team success, we’ve had all of that,” Lewis said. “I just thought with the success we’re bringing in as a team, why not come back and combine it with the season that I have in my head.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: Why Aaron Lewis decided to return in 2024
