GMG Interview with 4 Star QB Brendon Lewis

TheReal_jayD · February 19, 2019

247 Page: https://247sports.com/Player/Brendon-Lewis-46036862/

Hudl Page:http://www.hudl.com/profile/7929951/Brendon-Lewis

UNT Football held its 2019 Junior day on Monday February 18, 2019 (Presidents Day this year). A highly ranked group of prospects attended the Denton event. These top 2020 targets were invited to come check out the facilities and meet and hang out with the staff. They also were able to meet with the new staff additions, including new offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder who was previously at Eastern Washington.

One of the biggest recruits in New Denton Monday was Melissa High School 4-star Quarterback Brendon Lewis. In his junior season, Lewis led Melissa his with over 4000 total yards and 50 touchdowns. His big junior season has culminated in over 15 offers, including teams like Mississippi State, TCU, Texas Tech and Nebraska. Despite that lofty listing, Lewis likes what he has seen from North Texas so far. Seeing what Seth Littrell and Mason Fine have been able to accomplish together in their 3 years in North Texas has made it a compelling destination for offensive players.

I had a chance to talk to the 4 Star QB to see how his visit to New Denton went.

GMG:

How was the atmosphere at JR day today?

Brendon Lewis (BL):

“It was great, the coaches made me feel like family. They just gave off a good vibe and I felt a great connection with all of them.”

GMG

Did you have a chance to meet new Offensive Coordinator Boodie Reeder?

BL

“Yes, I spent almost the whole day with him. I love him already. He’s a great guy. He’s smart and I just loved talking ball with him. He knows what he’s doing, and our relationship is already great. He made a good impression on me. I could go on and on about him”

GMG

Mason Fine has had a lot of success with the North Texas offense the last few years.
With him graduating after next season does it intrigue you that quarterback position will be wide open, and you could come in and start at QB early? Or is that not a major factor?

BL

“It is a pretty big factor seeing how well Mason is doing it and Coach Littrell’s history of developing QBs. It makes me excited to have a chance to come in early and compete for the job and playing in that offense that would be a lot of fun.”

GMG

What other factors are going to be big factors in your decision. Close to home? Biggest offer? or best fit?

BL

“Really the place that feels like home and the coaches who make me feel like family. And just being real with me. I want to go to the place that is the best fit for me to accomplish my dreams and aspirations which are to play at the next level as well as providing a good education for my life after football.”

RiseUNT · February 19, 2019

Are the jerseys that the prospects wear predetermined or do they get to pick?

Big Z · February 19, 2019

I’ve know his dad (Brian) for quite a while and he is a good friend of mine. Great family man and he has coached both of his boys growing up and was an excellent coach. The Lewis family never stops working and always looking to get better. Brendon Lewis is a young man that I hope we can get to play here! Here is what Brendon’s father wrote on his Facebook page today. GMG!

NorthTexan95 · February 19, 2019

Love it!

p_phelps · February 19, 2019

Let's go get the next great QB at UNT.

MeanGreenTexan · February 19, 2019

His comments, especially the ones about coach Reeder, lend cautious optimism.

Big Z · February 19, 2019

14 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

His comments, especially the ones about coach Reeder, lend cautious optimism.

Ya I would love to get him, his brother and twin friends who all grew up together and play at Melissa. Be an awesome group to have as DBs below. Look them up when you get a chance.

BJ Lewis

Chance Mapps

Chase Mapps

Withers940 · February 19, 2019

Who was the Communist that down voted the topic?

Hunter Green · February 19, 2019

1 hour ago, Withers940 said:

Who was the Communist that down voted the topic?

My guess is the former fan who will remain un-named! He's lurking you know...

NorthTexasWeLove · February 19, 2019

This is positive stuff. Landing a kid of this caliber and for him to come in and be a game changer would be ideal and if he lives up to the hype would propel us to UCF status.

But if Mississippi State and Nebraska, etc are in on him and really wants him, a bag man will be at his door soon enough to wrap up that commitment. Maybe even a new shiny job for mom and dad with a probable Tahoe with a bow on top. It's just how things are done and there is nothing we can do about it and apparently nothing the NCAA will do about it.

TheReal_jayD · February 19, 2019

3 hours ago, Withers940 said:

Who was the Communist that down voted the topic?

Haters gonna hate

MeanGreenTexan · February 19, 2019

1 hour ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

This is positive stuff. Landing a kid of this caliber and for him to come in and be a game changer would be ideal and if he lives up to the hype would propel us to UCF status.

But if Mississippi State and Nebraska, etc are in on him and really wants him, a bag man will be at his door soon enough to wrap up that commitment. Maybe even a new shiny job for mom and dad with a probable Tahoe with a bow on top. It's just how things are done and there is nothing we can do about it and apparently nothing the NCAA will do about it.

And if he asks NT to beat that hypothetical "offer", we'd better tell him "bye". I'm proud that NT has never ever been under NCAA sanctions for that kind of conduct. And I don't want to start now.

Cr1028 · February 19, 2019

Good kid and I’m pleased with the positive things he and his father said about us. However, the cynic in me says that while it is possible he signs to play for Coach Littrell, it won’t be at UNT. Let’s be real here, if not for Bill Snyder’s meddling, SL would already be gone. His super agent will find him a new home. As Wren says, a handshake and thanks for what you’ve done is almost certainly in our near future

NorthTexasWeLove · February 19, 2019

18 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

And if he asks NT to beat that hypothetical "offer", we'd better tell him "bye". I'm proud that NT has never ever been under NCAA sanctions for that kind of conduct. And I don't want to start now.

I agree.

The issue is not with what UNT is or is not willing to do. The issue is what the NCAA isn't willing to do. And that's to push swift consequences onto offenders of the NCAA bylaws. They pick and choose or only get involved if the federal government aims their magnifying glass on it or if the public outcry is too loud to ignore. Too often 18 year old kids are flashing stacks of cash and shiny new cars on Facebook, instagram, etc. and the NCAA doesn't even lift a phone.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/dont-punish-alabama-for-alleged-actions-of-ex-player-middleman/

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/candid-coaches-revealing-how-many-teams-cheat-commit-major-violations/

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/anonymous-coach-believes-sec-cheats-conference/

https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/scoring_grades_how_schools_cheat_to_keep_athletes.html

https://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/08/anonymous_coaches_in_the_sec_8.html

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/07/08/more-dozen-athletic-programs-have-committed-academic-fraud-last-decade-more-likely

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/blair-kerkhoff/article116893433.html

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/20/arian-foster-admits-getting-money-in-college/

This one below is a particularly good read especially for the fans unaware of what a bag man is and what their role is:

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/4/10/5594348/college-football-bag-man-interview

And the list goes on and on and on and on...

Sometimes the NCAA acts, often times they don't. When they do, it's a smack in the back of the head at most. And it's usually redacted down to lesser penalties a la Ole Miss and Penn State.

Cheating is rampant. There are countless documentaries, articles, receipts, transactions, first hand interviews, etc. that proves it is very alive and well. The NCAA, due to their inaction, has proven they just don't care. So the big question is how do we compete with this? Or even how do the inferior "P5" programs compete with this. Even though their cheating is well documented in some cases, just not as frequent or egregious. How do they compete with this? The NCAA turning a blind eye is allowing about 10 programs to monopolize college football AND basketball. Cheating is proving to pay....pay 37 million to 51 million was the per team compensation via TV deals distributed to "P5" universities pending conference affiliation. While, I believe, CUSA programs received a lofty check of 600K. This is not sustainable. Something has to give. And the only way for it to happen, with convenience, is for the NCAA to adhere to their own rules and pass down punishments that are severe enough to push programs away from their recruiting tactics. The NCAA has to make the risk much greater than the reward.

Withers940 · February 19, 2019

50 minutes ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Haters gonna hate

Folks just didnt like the questions you were asking. Maybe next time ask them what their favorite color is or Ice Cream Flavor

greenminer · February 19, 2019

8 minutes ago, Withers940 said:

Folks just didnt like the questions you were asking. Maybe next time ask them what their favorite color is or Ice Cream Flavor

I wouldn't assume that (though you could be right). There are posters around here that just down vote for the hell of it; like they're just trying to see what kind of rise it gets out of people.

Stop thinking that there's some sort of science/logic behind these rogue negative votes.

DeepGreen · February 19, 2019

Follow the money trail. In 2017 the NCAA clear $1 Billion in revenue. And Emmert base salary is over $2 million.

Maybe the NCAA gets a cut of the money generated by college football, TV rights, etc. Maybe the NCAA gets compensated somehow from the P5 cartel. The type of compensation that no one knows about. Just sayin.

UNT Texas Hooligan · February 19, 2019

Damn proud

Mean Green 93-98 · February 19, 2019

Some of the comments in this thread might lead one to believe this young man and his family are looking for the highest bidder. Based on @Big Z's post, his father sounds like a man of class and character. If he ends up going somewhere else, I'm going to assume they made their choice based on the right criteria. If he comes to UNT, I'll know they did. And I'll be jumping up and down like a schnockered kangaroo.

jdennis82 · February 19, 2019

Add this young man's assessment to the growing list of reasons #NewDenton is real. Getting players the caliber of those we signed for '19 and these who came to town this weekend is proof that Wren, Seth, and their staffs have reshaped the reputation of the North Texas football program in high school locker rooms. Add to that the work Smatresk has done to improve the perception of the University as a whole, and we have much to be proud of these days.

Mr. Lewis sounds like he would be an incredible addition to the Mean Green Family

Big Z · February 20, 2019

2 hours ago, Mean Green 93-98 said:

Some of the comments in this thread might lead one to believe this young man and his family are looking for the highest bidder. Based on @Big Z's post, his father sounds like a man of class and character. If he ends up going somewhere else, I'm going to assume they made their choice based on the right criteria. If he comes to UNT, I'll know they did. And I'll be jumping up and down like a schnockered kangaroo.

Agree I find it insulting that some people assume my good friend would take money or bribes. Here is what you don’t know about Mr. Brian Lewis

-Coached youth football and basketball all his life, volunteered countless hours.

-Help brought in kids who didn’t have any male guidance in their life or resources.

-He is a hard worker and has an awesome job with a good company

-Few years ago he won DFW’s YMCA Volunteer of the Year award, a very prestigious award.

-Father of two boys, two girls and his married to a wonderful woman. Has a beautiful newly house built in Melissa and has a awesome job.

Anything else?

RiseUNT · February 20, 2019

29 minutes ago, Big Z said:

Agree I find it insulting that some people assume my good friend would take money or bribes. Here is what you don’t know about Mr. Brian Lewis

-Coached youth football and basketball all his life, volunteered countless hours.

-Help brought in kids who didn’t have any male guidance in their life or resources.

-He is a hard worker and has an awesome job with a good company

-Few years ago he won DFW’s YMCA Volunteer of the Year award, a very prestigious award.

-Father of two boys, two girls and his married to a wonderful woman. Has a beautiful newly house built in Melissa and has a awesome job.

Anything else?

Well the hell are you doing on here?

You have work to do! (Within rules)

greenminer · February 20, 2019

1 hour ago, Big Z said:

Agree I find it insulting that some people assume my good friend would take money or bribes. Here is what you don’t know about Mr. Brian Lewis

Maybe some passerby might scroll a little too quickly down this page and lump all this discussion into an assumption about your friend. But if you read through it, no one here accused him of anything. The thread just got derailed.