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OU's Ronnell Lewis to miss bowl game

Updated: December 19, 2011, 3:15 PM ET
By Jake Trotter | SoonerNation

NORMAN, Okla. -- Junior defensive end Ronnell Lewis has likely played his last game in an Oklahoma uniform.

Coach Bob Stoops said Monday that Lewis will miss the Dec. 30 Insight Bowl because of academic issues. Stoops also said he expects Lewis to declare for the NFL Draft.

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"I don't want to come out and speak for him, but we've talked and I feel it's in his best interest to go on to the NFL," Stoops said. "It hasn't been formalized yet, but we expect that to happen. And I'm all for it. He needs to do that. We're hopeful that will all go the right way."

Lewis, a former 8-man football star at Dewar (Okla.) High School, flourished this season in his first as a full-time starter. He is second on the defense with 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

Lewis is ranked No. 18 in the latest edition of Mel Kiper's Big Board. He is the fourth-ranked outside linebacker by Scouts Inc.

Lewis suffered an MCL knee sprain Nov. 19 against Baylor that forced him to also sit out the following week against Iowa State. Then Lewis was suspended for the season finale against Oklahoma State because he had skipped too many classes.

Jake Trotter covers University of Oklahoma football for SoonerNation. He can be reached at trotterjake@gmail.com. and look for answers every Friday.

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SoonerNationESPN.com
  • Oklahoma Sooners football beat writer
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2011
  • Author of "I Love Oklahoma/I Hate Texas"

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