Jermaine Lewis has made quite an impact this season playing in the Arena Football League for the Grand Rapids Rampage, which is just up the road from his college alma mater, Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo. From 2000-2002, Lewis played safety and wide receiver at the Mid-American Conference school. 

“Coach (Jim) Knowles, the defensive coordinator at the time, recruited me,” said Lewis. “He stuck with me and got me into college.”

In 2003, Lewis signed with the NFL Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent and also spent time that year on the practice squads of the San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans. In 2004, he was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe by the Houston Texans. 

The following year, Lewis began his Arena Football League career. He played for the Nashville Kats in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Lewis spent time on the practice squad of the Dallas Desperados before signing with the Grand Rapids Rampage mid-way through the season. He played in the last eight games of the season for Grand Rapids and was one of only a handful of players who were retained for the 2008 season by new Rampage head coach Steve Thonn.

Lewis was featured on the cover of the April 13 Rampage game program for their home game against the Orlando Predators. The program also contained a feature story on him and a poster. 

Prior to the 2006 season in the AFL, six of the eight players on the field were required to play both offense and defense, They were known as Ironmen. However, beginning in 2006, the league instituted a free substitution rule for players. Now they can specialize in either offensive or defensive positions. Lewis is one of only a handful of players throughout the league that continues to play on both sides of the ball. He plays wide receiver and linebacker. 

“Any chance I can get to be out on the field is a chance to help the team win,” Lewis said.

Ironically, Lewis wears the number 4, just like another former WMU players did when he played for Grand Rapids, Josh Bush. Bush, who played at WMU from 1998-2001, played in 33 games for the Rampage from 2004-2006. He went on to play for the AFL Columbus Destroyers in 2007, a team that lost in the Arena Bowl championship game to the San Jose SaberCats, and was with the Dallas Desperados this season. Bush and Lewis were teammates at WMU during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

On June 26, Lewis was named to the Arena Football League’s All-Ironman Team for 2008. As a wide receiver this season, he had 40 receptions for 422 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 43.5 tackles and an interception.

Lewis also had an interception in Monday night’s 48-41 playoff win on the road against the Arizona Rattlers.