Deantre Lewis To Red Shirt 2011, ASU Sun Devils Confirm

Not long ago, Arizona State running back Deantre Lewis was confident he would recover from a gun shot wound and return to action in 2011. Unfortunately, it turns out the Sun Devils will have to wait for next year to see Lewis on the field. Coach Dennis Erickson confirmed on Thursday that Lewis will red shirt his 2011 season.

"I don't care about winning game or losing games, I care about Deantre Lewis right now," Erickson said. "He's been through some things that none of us can imagine, not just physically but mentally. He's getting better all the time. Maybe he could come back at the end of the year but the biggest thing mentally and physically for him is to shoot for spring football."

It's fairly certain that Erickson didn't mean anything but using the word "shoot" when talking about Lewis who was hit by a stray bullet in the buttocks while visiting his family in Riverside, CA in February 2011. 

In August, Lewis talked to the media and expressed confidence he would return this season.

"I feel good. I feel like 85, 90 percent. The 10 percent is my stamina right now," Lewis said, "That's the only thing I feel like I'm missing...I'll be back very soon."

Erickson said that Lewis physically isn't ready to play and that dealing with getting shot is something that few us can relate to. Deantre can now focus on preparing for the spring and taking care of his academics after missing classes due to this incident.

We wish Deantre all the best in his recovery.

Arizona State Running Back Deantre Lewis Plans To Play In 2011

The Sun Devils have had to deal with multiple injuries on the field during training camp, but one they had no control over was the random shooting of running back Deantre Lewis over six months ago. Fortunately for Lewis and his Arizona State teammates and coaches, he plans to play this upcoming season and forgo a redshirt.

Lewis made a welcome appearance at Sun Devil's practice on Thursday. He spoke to the media and talked about how good it felt to be back among his team and updated us on his status.

"I feel good. I feel like 85, 90 percent. The 10 percent is my stamina right now. That's the only thing I feel like I'm missing...I'll be back very soon," Lewis said.

He admitted being ready by the first game on September 1 might be a bit soon but he fully intends to play this season.

The recover from a gun shot wound has been difficult. It took hard work six days a week and mentally was difficult as well. There was a point recently in July when he thought he might not ever make it back.

"It was getting over that last hump and getting my speed back. People kept telling me it was going to take hard work and it was going to be the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I somehow fought through it and every time I went to sleep I prayed that I would be better the next day and come back stronger than I was before."

Lewis feels that in the long run this experience will make him a better player. He feels like he will now be able to add more mental toughness to his considerable physical talents.

This is great news for Deantre and he is a kid eager to get back to playing the game he loves. The soon-to-be junior rushed for 539 yards on 92 attempts last season. He also recorded four rushing touchdowns along with two receiving touchdowns out of the backfield. He will battle for playing time in the upcoming season.

For more on the Sun Devils, be sure to check out House of Sparky.