Florida International University sophomore linebacker Sage Lewis is not only cooking on the gridiron, but can prepare a gourmet meal in the kitchen.
The 6-1, 240-pound former Pace standout loves to cook and, of course, chose culinary arts as his major.
Lewis said he learned how to cook by watching the Food Channel while growing up, diligently watched world-renowned chefs dish up a variety of meals on the many different shows that the channel offers.
But don’t mistake his culinary talent for tenderheartedness; he’s always hungry on the football field and can taste the intensity he brings to the team when he crushes the competition.
“I love hitting people,” he said. “When I first came to FIU, I was the hit dummy.”
But under the tutelage of senior linebackers Treyvon Williams and Anthony Went, Lewis’ new recipe for success on the college level has earned him a spot on the Panthers’ linebacking corps this season.
Lewis is fourth on the team in tackles with 30 behind Williams (39) and Went (36) and safety Bryce Canada (32).
He may have taught himself how to cook but the lessons on the football field are paying off and may start later this season or next season.
"Sage makes plays," said FIU defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Guy. "One that jumps out at me is when they ran the reverse at Rice and he got a tackle for a loss on it. They ran a screen one time and he set the edge for us. He feels things naturally like screen plays and reverses that a lot of guys would be running wild trying to get to the front side. He can see that stuff happening which is a natural ability. I haven't taught him that."
The Panthers are 4-2 (2-1 C-USA) this season under first year coach Butch Davis, including an upset victory over Tulane as the Panthers’ defense held the Green Wave to 10 points.
Lewis recorded 5 tackles in the game.
Before running through the tunnel at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Lewis left his mark at Pace under head coach Mario Smith. He was named Class 4A First-Team All-State player in 2014, First Team All-Dade County, and he finished the 2014 season with 105 tackles and eight sacks.
He also recorded more than 100 tackles for his second-consecutive season and registered 125 tackles during his junior season.
FIU recruited Lewis and after he was redshirted his freshmen year, he played in 11 games and registered 27 tackles (11 solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry.
He recorded three-or-more tackles in four games, including a career-high seven against Western Kentucky University; notches four tackles (one solo) at Old Dominion; set a career mark in tackles with seven, including a half tackle for loss with one quarterback hurry against Western Kentucky; three tackles against Florida Atlantic; and he recorded a then-career-high six tackles against University of Central Florida, including two tackles for loss.