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Getting a chance to play in the NFL is the ultimate goal for a football player. However, very few actually get to see that dream come true. Senior defensive back Robert Lewis got to take one step closer to that goal when he was invited to take part in Iowa State University’s pro day this spring.

A pro day is when NFL scouts come and examine prospects to see if they have the potential to play in the NFL. Most NCAA Division-I football teams have a pro day each spring. Most schools outside of Division I (including Grand View) do not because it is rare for players to make it to the NFL from this level. When a player does stand out and scouts want to see him in action, the player is typically asked to attend the pro day of a Division-I school.  Lewis was one of a few players from NAIA schools invited to participate in Iowa State’s pro day.

“It’s one of the biggest job interviews ever,” Lewis said.

Joe Woodley is the co-defensive coordinator for Grand View’s football team. He said Robert has been great to work with during his time here and that he isn’t surprised Robert is getting so much attention from scouts.

“He really worked on his craft, and that’s a testament to him,” Woodley said. “One thing that teams will like about Robert is that he has great size for a corner.”

 

Lewis learned through his agent, Curtis Stephens, that a handful of NFL teams were looking at him.

“The Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams (now Los Angeles Rams), and San Diego Chargers wanted to see me at a pro day,” Lewis said. “It was either going to be at (University of Northern Iowa) or Iowa State.”

At the pro day, Lewis had to complete several basic drills such as the vertical jump, broad jump and 40-yard dash. He also completed drills specific to his position. His 40-yard dash time was 4.46 seconds, which is very good for a defensive back. By comparison, only eight defensive backs at this year’s NFL draft combine had a better time than Lewis.

 

“For a guy at NAIA to run a better time than many Division I guys is really surprising,” Lewis said.

Woodley, however, was not surprised at Lewis’ performance.

“We obviously saw that on full display the last couple years,” Woodley said.

 

Lewis also said that he had a chance to meet with a few teams, including the Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders.

“They were just asking me questions and finding out what kind of guy I was on the field and just checking my personality out,” Lewis said.

 

The next step for Lewis is to continue working with his agent to get his name out there. He is already scheduled to do a mini-camp with the Dallas Cowboys.

“It’s basically another tryout, but it’s a private workout,” Lewis said. “Teams see if you will work with their defensive scheme.”

Despite Lewis’ recent success, making an NFL roster remains a long shot. But there are other options that will allow him to continue playing football.

Canadian Football League (CFL)
Teams: Nine
Average salary: $73,772
Players in league: Approximately 400
Average age of players: 27
Former players currently in NFL: 16

Arena Football League (AFL)
Teams: Eight (Ninth team coming next year)
Average salary: $80,000 (Inflated by a few “franchise” players who earn six figures; most players earn between $40,000 and $50,000)
Players in league: Approximately 160
Former players who have played in the NFL: 121

Lewis mentioned that even if the NFL doesn’t work out, he is still looking at other leagues, including the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League. From there, he may still be able to work his way up to the NFL.

“I have a couple invites to pro days for the CFL, but they only come to major cities,” Lewis said. “(They) can be hard to get to with school.”

Lewis said he plans to continue chasing his NFL dream for as long as possible but also has other plans for whenever his football career ends.

“I’m looking into sports media and being a sportscaster,” he said. “I love sports, and I love being around sports.”

Regardless of where he ends up, Lewis will always have the support of his fellow teammates, coaches and fans at Grand View.

“We’re sure glad Robert Lewis came into our program,” Woodley said. “I hope the best for Robert. We’re definitely in his corner here.”