Lewis makes the most of his opportunity at quarterback

For IU freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis, changing positions was never an option. \nLewis was recruited by plenty of big-time football programs during his senior year at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla. The University of Florida, the University of Maryland, North Carolina State University and Illinois -- to name a few -- were all interested in Lewis' services. \nBut not at quarterback. \nIU coach Terry Hoeppner offered Lewis the chance to play quarterback, a position he played in high school, and he signed on as a late commitment for the fall of 2005. \n"(The other schools) wanted me to play wide receiver, and I wanted to play quarterback," Lewis said after the Ball State game Sept. 9. "IU gave me a shot at it, and I thought, 'Well, better late than never.'"\nSince then, Lewis and the coaching staff have not so much as discussed the possibility of a move to wide receiver or any other position, Lewis said. \nLewis joined his new team as a quarterback for the 2005 season but spent the entire season on the sideline as a redshirt. \nHe came into the 2006 season third on the Hoosier depth chart at quarterback behind incumbent junior starter Blake Powers, who started every game in 2005, and senior backup Graeme McFarland. \nPowers went down with an injury in the first game of this season. McFarland went down two offensive drives into the second game, and the door opened for Lewis.\nIn his first game action of any kind since high school -- almost two years ago -- Lewis entered the Ball State game facing a 14-0 deficit. Forty-nine minutes later, Lewis' coach was singing his praises after a comeback IU victory. \n"He has a real knack in the pocket. He has a very bright future," Hoeppner said after the game. "He's a heck of a football player. I'm glad he's on our side." \nLewis spent most of his time under center during the Ball State game, wreaking havoc on the Cardinals' defense. He accounted for 316 total yards in the game, 228 passing and 88 rushing and two touchdowns -- one through the air and one on the ground. \nThe dimension Lewis brought to the IU offense, being able to not only throw, but run effectively as well, kept the Ball State defense off-balance and helped springboard the Hoosiers to victory. \nThe fact that Lewis had that kind of performance in him was no surprise to his teammates. \n"Kellen has been doing that all practice," junior cornerback Tracy Porter said after the game. "The only thing we told him was to treat it just like practice, and that's exactly what he did." \nHis performance during the Ball State game earned Lewis his first collegiate start the next week, with both McFarland and Powers still injured. \nBut the Southern Illinois University game would not be Ball State revisited. \nLewis and the IU offense sputtered for long stretches of the game. They couldn't make up another second-half deficit and eventually fell to the Salukis 35-28 after Lewis' final pass of the game fell incomplete. \n"We lost a game we definitely should have won," Lewis said after the loss.\nIn consecutive weeks to begin his collegiate career, Lewis felt the highs of a win and the lows of a loss and has yet to experience his first Big Ten game.\nAt least he gets to play quarterback.