How The Saints Can Draft The "Next" Marques Colston Today

With drafting this guy.....


Dezmin Lewis, WR, Central Arkansas









What if I told you that your New Orleans Saints could wait until today, the final day of the NFL Draft (Day 3); to find a wide receiver that could become one of the next young superstars to wear the Black and Gold for the rest of this decade and into the next one?

Would you be the least bit interested?

Then, what if I told you that he had the chance to become the “next Marques Colston” —– a player with incredible talent to go along with a very rare combination of size and speed, that basically no one has ever heard of because (like Colston did) he played at a somewhat obscure small school but was still good enough to be a star in the NFL

Would you find that even remotely intriguing?

Saints fans, allow me to introduce to you: University of Central Arkansas Wide Receiver Dezmin Lewis.

The comparison of Lewis to Colston is eerily similar. Besides the fact that both played at obscure schools that not many fans are familiar with (Colston’s old school, Hofstra Univeristy in New York, doesn’t even play football anymore) and both can be taken on the 3rd Day of the Draft (Rounds 4-7), they both are similar in size and talent coming out of college.

Coming out of Hofstra in the 2006 NFL Draft, Colston was 6’5 and 224 pounds and ran a 4.5 40 yard dash. Dezmin Lewis is 6’4 and 214 pounds, and runs a 4.46 40 yard dash. Colston was selected by the Saints in Round 7 — #252nd overall and four spots from the end of the Draft.

The irony here is that if the Saints were to take Lewis, he most likely (in my opinion) would become the eventual heir-apparent to Colston’s spot, once Colston retires –which some observers (myself included) feel may be at the end of the 2015 season; meaning that Colston could potentially be mentoring his own replacement.

Actually, what stands out on the film with Lewis, besides his obviously jaw-dropping talent, is the attention-grabbing playing surface he played on during his home games in college.

Central Arkansas play its home games at Estes Stadium — one of the most unique football fields in the country, somewhat designed (on a smaller scale) similarly to Albertsons Stadium in Idaho (the all-blue football field of Boise State).

In 2011, the school decided to change from real grass to synthetic turf, and change the color from green to purple and grey, a.k.a. “The Stripes”. They actually borrowed the idea from LSU, who had released an all purple field on April Fool’s Day 2010 before Spring practice.

The thought process behind the whole idea was for the “The Stripes” to become a recruiting tool for them in attracting (smart, huh?) top players to their tiny school. One of those players just happened to be Dezmin Lewis.

Lewis, the Mesquite, Texas, native; attended North Mesquite High School and essentially was a virtual unknown given who never even played a single down of football (he was a basketball star for the Stallions) until his senior year.

He actually became well-known as “big-play” maker that senior year, but had limited offers from colleges to play football, and Lewis eventually found himself in the town of Conway, Arkansas — the home of the University of Central Arkansas.

In 2014, Lewis grabbed 64 receptions for 945 yards and 9 touchdowns, but it was his junior year that grabbed the attention of NFL scouts. It was in 2013 that Lewis had a “breakout” season; catching 83 passes for 1,002 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Lewis earned 1st Team All-Southland Conference honors and finished 2nd in Central Arkansas history with 197 receptions; and 3rd all-time with 2,618 yards and 24 TD’s.

Lewis’ production earned him an invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama — where he drew the attention of several prominent media analysts and observers in attendance covering the event.

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said about Lewis: “When I watched him on tape, he was so much fun to watch. Look at how long he is. (He) can stride it out and beat you over the top. A little nifty after the catch, too, for such a long, tall receiver.”

At his Pro Day, Lewis (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) had an impressive performance before scouts and observers on-hand to specifically watch him; he ran the 40-yard dash once, in 4.46 seconds. He also posted a 37-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-4 broad jump.

Plenty of teams will surely be interested in picking him on Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) of the Draft next Saturday, and you can bet with that combination of size and speed, that your New Orleans Saints will be one of those teams.

The Saints pick twice in Round 5 (picks #146 and #154) and it’s a spot in the Draft on Day 3 where Lewis may still be available, assuming some other team hasn’t snatched him up by then.

Lewis is exactly a “secret” anymore, and I definitely can see him going as high as Round 4 — the only round that the Saints DON’T have a pick; meaning that if he’s still there in Round 5 and the Saints haven’t taken a WR by then?

They better JUMP on this kid.


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