Interview: 2023 California CB Jonah Lewis has Unlimited Potential
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Whatever Jonah Lewis wants his future to be on the gridiron, he can make happen. The Class of 2023 talent shocked California’s southland during the 2019 season taking on top national recruits playing cornerback. As powerhouse program Sierra Canyon (14-2) made their run to the state playoffs, their 5-11, 170-pound, freshman defender was gaining strength and momentum with his craft. By the end of the campaign, Lewis had dragged down 21 ball carriers, 21 solo, with two tackles for a loss, and 12 pass breakups including a game-clinching deflection. The abilities coupled with unlimited upside already has four offers on the table for Lewis; Arizona State, Kansas, Oregon State, and Virginia Tech.
With another big season ahead, Lewis stopped by the RNG Lab for a detailed Q&A covering his growth on the field as a freshman and his progress throughout the offseason working to be best in class.
Interview
Jonah, the coaches at Sierra Canyon put a lot of trust in your talents and abilities last season at corner, and you came through for them. Being a freshman, when did you learn that you would have a substantial role on the team?
In practice, I was constantly working and getting reps. They had me on second team, they knew that I was going to get reps as a freshman, but did not how much time I’d get. During one on ones in practice, I took every rep; I am not scared to compete. I played well against the other guys. We had guys last year at corner, so we alternated. It took a couple of weeks to get in, I had to keep making plays. It was a grind because there are not a lot of coaches who trust freshmen. They hadn’t had a lot of freshmen making plays before, that brought the hunger out in me. I wanted that job and kept working. Around mid-season they got comfortable with me out there.
How did you adapt to everything, especially at such a high level, so quickly last year?
In the offseason, I was working getting ready for high school ball. My trainers knew I had to come in stronger and faster. I always had the mentality to compete against anyone, a five-star or whoever. It was all about getting faster and stronger. It was more about adapting to how much bigger they were. Once I got stronger and faster, I knew I was ready to compete. I was more adapting to the physical, I was ready for the mental part.
When the 2019 season ended what did you feel were the strengths overall on defense?
How I was in-tune with the game and coming up and making tackles. Another strength, the coaches were not nervous having me out there. I was getting tackles and pass breakups. They could leave me out there and not worry. Late in the game, I felt like I was playing even better, making clutch plays, and getting breakups. I secured the game winner against Grace Brethren with a pass breakup. Then I showed I could play big in the clutch. Another strength, I was at a 98 percent tackling percentage last year.
The Trailblazers’ secondary was giving quarterbacks all sorts of different looks, and you were playing a lot of man within the coverages. What schemes were you guys executing last season?
We had a very good run defense, and we were well-rounded. It was hard for opposing teams to figure out how to make plays against us. Our secondary could play man and zone. We had it all together as a unit. Zone was our main thing so we could make plays on the ball. At the end of the day, we could do anything. Against Helix, we played a lot of man. I had two or three deflections in that game. We are not scared to play any type of coverage.
Watching your game reel, I can tell you like baiting quarterbacks.
Yes, sometimes you can bait and make plays and sometimes I try to make a play but the receiver can make an unbelievable catch. You can’t play nervous as a corner; you have to keep working no matter what. That is why I had so many pass breakups, I baited the QB to throwing my way. A lot of freshman corners play scared. You have to be comfortable to make plays. Also, our coach was not the type of coach to snatch us off the field if we have a ball caught on us.
That had to help a lot allowing the opportunity to learn and shake off the last play for the next.
Yes, sir.
Since the 2019 season ended, what have you been working on with your game as a corner?
A lot of the coaches I have been talking to, they want to see the uphill speed. This offseason I have been working on my speed. I have good speed, but it needs to be better. I want to be an all-around corner. Some corners need to work on different parts of their game, mine is speed and loosening up my hips.
Have you dropped a 40 time yet?
No, no 40 time yet. Some corners can rely on their speed but they are not technical. I really on my technique and I’m trying to put it all together.
Are you taking on any new roles during the 2020 season?
I am trying to get on kickoff and kick return; I think I am a great returner. Colleges want to see an all-around player.
Once the 2020 season gets going, what goals have you set for yourself?
To make more plays. I left the stat sheet empty last season; I know I can do more. I want more plays and interceptions this year.
Let’s touch on recruiting. I know college programs are already finding you. How many offers do you have?
Four.
Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?
Washington, Oregon, and Utah.
Have you had a chance to visit any programs yet?
Yes. With my 7v7 team, we visited Washington, Oregon, and Oregon State.
Overall, how did the visits go?
The visits were good, especially Oregon. Oregon has a really nice facility. Washington is the same thing. We got into the gear and took pictures there. The environment was crazy on the visits, especially at Washington. At Oregon State, they were my first offer. That was great. It was a surreal experience. We also did a photo shoot there. I talked to the head coach during the Oregon State visit, that is when it happened. We walked around the facility, I had never visited elite college facilities before, seeing their locker room and where they relax. At Washington, we walked around the whole school. It was all different and in a good way.
When the opportunity arises again, are there any visits you’d like to take?
I want to visit Arizona State, go back up to Washington, visit Florida, I like that school, Cal, and Texas A&M; I really want to visit them. USC and UCLA, I visited both of those schools already and would like to visit again. UCLA’s facilities are crazy. I visited them last year. I have not been deep into the program at USC, I want to see what is going on there.
Jonah, it was great spending time with you today. Wishing you and the rest of the team success this offseason preparing for the 2020 campaign.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Lewis family; Jonah Lewis at Oregon State and Washington (2020)