South Jersey football: Williamstown standout Aaron Lewis commits to West Virginia

As Aaron Lewis was getting ready to leave the West Virginia University spring game this past weekend, he realized he had no desire to do so.

That’s when the Williamstown High School junior came to the conclusion his choice was made.

Lewis, the Braves’ standout defensive end, is committing to play for the Mountaineers over a host of other Division-I football programs including Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin.

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“You know, to be honest, all these visits, they were all great colleges, all great visits, there was just something different about West Virginia,” Lewis said. “I felt love from the fans, felt love from the coaching staff, love from the players. I was at the spring game and I had people coming up to me, they didn’t even know me, Aaron Lewis, we’d love you to be a Mountaineer. Them recognizing me is great.”

Lewis was an All-South Jersey First Team honoree last fall and was a leader on a defensive unit that propelled Williamstown to its second-ever sectional championship.

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He hopes to have a similar impact at West Virginia.

“I’m looking to start as a freshman,” Lewis said.

But playing time wasn’t the key to his decision.

“I really think this is home,” Lewis said. “This place has treated me so well since they started recruiting me. I feel like home whenever I’m there. I didn’t even sign yet and I feel like I’m part of the team already. It’s the feeling I get when I’m with Williamstown. We have that chemistry, that atmosphere, with the interviews, I felt the family atmosphere when I was there.

“(I was with head coach) Neal Brown, my recruiter Chad Scott and D-line coach Jordan Lesley. We were about to leave, and they were telling me about the place and home and saying it really fits you and I looked at my mother and gave her that look. They asked who are your top schools right now? I said Ohio state and West Virginia, and I said coach, I really felt home here, I want to play football here. I want to be part of this.”

Lewis hadn’t earned a collegiate offer prior to the start of his junior campaign. He had more than 20 before making his choice.

“This has been a blessing,” he said. “I never thought this would happen to me. I was in my room playing guitar, hanging out with my friends, not even thinking about sports at one point in my life and this process, people dream of this process and I would never trade this process for anything. But I’m glad it’s over, I found my home. I’m ready for college, ready to play four years there.”

Josh Friedman; @JFriedman57; (856) 486-2431; jfriedman2@gannettnj.com

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