Gators, Heels in mix for Florida OL

Junior to Watch: Cornelius Lewis

School: Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines High School

Position: Offensive Guard

Size and speed: Lewis is 6-foot-3, weighs 310 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 5.2 seconds. He bench presses 350 pounds and squats 440.

Honors: Was named third-team Class 4A all-state by the FSWA.

Favorite Schools: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, N.C. State, North Carolina.

Skinny: Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines coach Ben Simmons just raves when he talks about the potential held by his star offensive lineman, Cornelius Lewis.

“We’re talking about a kid who’s still 16 years old and has a size 16 shoe. He won’t be 17 until Aug. 1, so he’s probably still going to do some more growing,” Simmons said. “He’s already 6-foot-3 ½, weighs 310 pounds and just ran a 5.2 at a combine. We went to the NFL All-Star Combine and he looked great. He was really happy with his 40 time and other testing. He benched 19 reps of 225 pounds and had a very good broad jump and vertical.

“He’s the complete package of size, speed, strength and desire. He’s going to be a big-time recruit.”

Simmons describes Lewis as a “balanced lineman, rush or pass, but he really excels in drive-blocking. He just blows people off the line of scrimmage.”

Schools showing early interest in the Raines standout include North Carolina, Florida, Florida State, N.C. State, Georgia, Louisville, Syracuse and Clemson.

“He’s heard from about every SEC and ACC school and a few from the Big 12 and Big Ten,” Simmons said. “The attention is coming from all over.”

Lewis plans to attend the Nike combine at Florida, but has yet to finalize his summer camp schedule.

In the classroom, he maintains a 2.4 GPA and is scheduled to take the ACT on April 12.