Star QB Kellen Lewis dismissed from team

IU football coach Bill Lynch announced Wednesday that senior wide receiver Kellen Lewis was dismissed from the IU football team for violating team rules.

In a statement released through IU media relations, Lynch said he was not pleased with his former player’s judgment. 

“We are disappointed to have to make this decision,” Lynch said. “When you have expectations of those on your team that are not met, you need to do what is ultimately in the overall best interest of your program.”

IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass said he supports Lynch’s stance on the situation.

“Today’s action underscores that no individual student-athlete, regardless of talent or popularity, is above the expectations of Indiana University,” Glass said, according to the statement.

Neither Glass nor Lynch were made available for further comment.

Lewis missed all of spring football in 2008 for another undisclosed team violation. He was reinstated Aug. 4, 2008, when training camp began, according to a July 9 Indiana Daily Student article.

In three years as IU’s quarterback, Lewis joined Antwaan Randle El as the only IU quarterback to produce 40 passing touchdowns, 6,250 passing yards, 8,000 total yards, 525 completions and 975 attempts in a career.

After a breakout freshman season, Lewis was named a second-team All Big Ten selection as a sophomore in the 2007-08 season. Injuries forced him to split time with junior quarterback Ben Chappell last season, as he appeared in only 10 games and rotated between the quarterback and wide receiver positions.

With his dismissal, Lewis could transfer to a Division I-AA school to finish out his senior season. He can also try his hand at the NFL Supplement Draft this summer.

He saw time primarily at the wide receiver position in spring football and was set to play wide receiver next fall.

No players or coaches were made available to the media.