Central Michigan University Athletics
Differerent Styles, Big-Time Results
5/19/2021 1:27:00 PM | Football
The 2 Lews -- Nichols and Kobe -- give Chippewas strong 1-2 backfield punch
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A bigger, stronger and faster running back duo at Central Michigan?
A scary proposition for Mid-American Conference opponents.
The Chippewas feature two known commodities in the backfield in Kobe Lewis and Lew Nichols III. In his three seasons in a Chippewa uniform, Lewis has amassed nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards and scored 19 touchdowns; Nichols gained 597 yards in rushing and receiving and scored five TDs in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, earning the MAC Freshman of the Year Award.
Combined, they give CMU a potent one-two punch that give defensive coordinators headaches what with their ability to not only run, but also block and catch the ball out of the backfield.
"Both of them have tremendous hands, so that's a plus," CMU running backs coach Cornell Jackson said. "Both of them clearly understand pass protection, so that's a plus.
"Kobe's more of a slide and glide and try to find that sweet spot. Lew's the kind of guy that once he puts his foot in the ground, if you're in his way, he's taking a body part with him.
Both of them are excellent runners, both of them have excellent vision."
In 2019 as a true freshman, Nichols appeared four games, the maximum number allowed for a player to preserve their redshirt. They were the first four games of the season and it gave the former Detroit Cass Tech standout a taste of the college game, and also whet his appetite.
"With Lew, as with most young running backs, he had to adjust to college football," Jackson said. "He not only had to adjust his body, but he had to adjust to the speed of the people who were coming at him. I saw that as time went on and I also saw a hunger in the young man as time went on.
"He's got the knowledge, he understands football. As time went on, he was hungry to change his body, he was hungry to get stronger in the weight room. (He had) an unbelievable year."
Lewis shared time early in his career with Jonathan Ward, now with the Arizona Cardinals, and produced a 1,000-yard rushing season in helping lead the Chippewas to the MAC West title and a berth in the league championship game in 2019.
His role has expanded, going from understudy to co-feature back with Ward, to the elder statesman among the running backs and a mentor to Nichols.
"I look at Lew as how I was when I was under Ward," said Lewis, adding that the two were roommates two years ago, a situation that brought them even closer. "Coming in, I needed the leadership from Ward; I learned from him and now that I'm the leader, the veteran, the older guy, I kind of take (Nichols) under my wing."
With three years in the program under his belt, the focus for Lewis, he said, is on perfecting his game, or getting as close to it as he possibly can.
"You learn new things every day, but it almost becomes mastering things now," he said. "Mastering protections, mastering reads, mastering jump cuts – simple things like that. I feel like it's time to put the polish on a lot of things.
"Most of all, it's my fourth year here and I think the biggest thing for me is to step up and be a leader, vocally; this is my time to take control."
Lewis and Nichols headline one of the Chippewas' more experienced and proven position groups, bolstered by the addition of converted defensive back Darius Bracy.
Bracy, a junior, was a fine defensive back during his first two seasons as a Chippewa. And while CMU had Lewis and Nichols firmly entrenched in the offensive backfield, there was little depth at the position.
"When you make a switch like that, sometimes players aren't passionate about it," Jackson said. "Bracy was really passionate about making that switch. I knew if the guy was excited about making the switch, he was going to be excited about doing the things we wanted him to do at that position. Bracy's got natural ability; my job is just teaching him the plays and getting him going in the right direction."
A scary proposition for Mid-American Conference opponents.
The Chippewas feature two known commodities in the backfield in Kobe Lewis and Lew Nichols III. In his three seasons in a Chippewa uniform, Lewis has amassed nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards and scored 19 touchdowns; Nichols gained 597 yards in rushing and receiving and scored five TDs in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, earning the MAC Freshman of the Year Award.
Combined, they give CMU a potent one-two punch that give defensive coordinators headaches what with their ability to not only run, but also block and catch the ball out of the backfield.
"Both of them have tremendous hands, so that's a plus," CMU running backs coach Cornell Jackson said. "Both of them clearly understand pass protection, so that's a plus.
"Kobe's more of a slide and glide and try to find that sweet spot. Lew's the kind of guy that once he puts his foot in the ground, if you're in his way, he's taking a body part with him.
Both of them are excellent runners, both of them have excellent vision."
In 2019 as a true freshman, Nichols appeared four games, the maximum number allowed for a player to preserve their redshirt. They were the first four games of the season and it gave the former Detroit Cass Tech standout a taste of the college game, and also whet his appetite.
"With Lew, as with most young running backs, he had to adjust to college football," Jackson said. "He not only had to adjust his body, but he had to adjust to the speed of the people who were coming at him. I saw that as time went on and I also saw a hunger in the young man as time went on.
"He's got the knowledge, he understands football. As time went on, he was hungry to change his body, he was hungry to get stronger in the weight room. (He had) an unbelievable year."
Lewis shared time early in his career with Jonathan Ward, now with the Arizona Cardinals, and produced a 1,000-yard rushing season in helping lead the Chippewas to the MAC West title and a berth in the league championship game in 2019.
His role has expanded, going from understudy to co-feature back with Ward, to the elder statesman among the running backs and a mentor to Nichols.
"I look at Lew as how I was when I was under Ward," said Lewis, adding that the two were roommates two years ago, a situation that brought them even closer. "Coming in, I needed the leadership from Ward; I learned from him and now that I'm the leader, the veteran, the older guy, I kind of take (Nichols) under my wing."
With three years in the program under his belt, the focus for Lewis, he said, is on perfecting his game, or getting as close to it as he possibly can.
"You learn new things every day, but it almost becomes mastering things now," he said. "Mastering protections, mastering reads, mastering jump cuts – simple things like that. I feel like it's time to put the polish on a lot of things.
"Most of all, it's my fourth year here and I think the biggest thing for me is to step up and be a leader, vocally; this is my time to take control."
Lewis and Nichols headline one of the Chippewas' more experienced and proven position groups, bolstered by the addition of converted defensive back Darius Bracy.
Bracy, a junior, was a fine defensive back during his first two seasons as a Chippewa. And while CMU had Lewis and Nichols firmly entrenched in the offensive backfield, there was little depth at the position.
"When you make a switch like that, sometimes players aren't passionate about it," Jackson said. "Bracy was really passionate about making that switch. I knew if the guy was excited about making the switch, he was going to be excited about doing the things we wanted him to do at that position. Bracy's got natural ability; my job is just teaching him the plays and getting him going in the right direction."
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