Lewis, a junior from Americus, Ga., is set to undergo surgery early next week. The injury was non-contact and coach Jim McElwain gave no timetable for Lewis' potential return.
Lewis and redshirt freshman Lew Nichols III combined to give the Chippewas a potent one-two punch at running back, one that was expected to shine in 2021. Both were among the 91 players nationwide who were named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which goes annually to the top running back in college football.
Lewis started all six games last season, combining for 574 yards and seven touchdowns in rushing and receiving. He also averaged 20.3 yards on 10 kick returns and led the Chippewas with an average of 129.5 all-purpose yards per game.
"Obviously (we) just feel horrible for a great leader like that," McElwain said, adding that Lewis has two years of eligibility remaining, one for what would be a medical redshirt this year and the other for the 2020 season, which was shortened by COVID and therefore did not count against any student-athlete's eligibility.
"Losing Kobe," McElwain said, "you're not only losing a great player and an explosive player, a guy who can make plays and help you win, but you're losing a great leader, a guy that is really valuable in that locker room."
Nichols, the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, is now the Chippewas' clear-cut No. 1 threat at running back. He led CMU with 508 yards rushing and caught 10 passes for 109 yards last season when he scored five TDs.
Junior Darius Bracy, who moved to running back from the secondary a year ago, will likely get more carries in place of Lewis. Last season, he carried 15 times for 95 yards from the wildcat formation.
There are five other running backs, all of whom are freshmen, on the roster. Myles Bailey and Marion Lukes are among the top candidates to see the field from that group.
"We're going to get it taken care of and (Lewis is) going to come back, but in the meantime, it puts that load a little bit on Bracy and obviously Lew Nichols to be leaders in that group," McElwain said. "There's a sense of urgency now because we don't have Kobe to rely on."
Moving Day
The Chippewas are scheduled to scrimmage on Saturday and that will go a long way in determining the depth chart, first and foremost at quarterback.
Redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson, sophomore Jacob Sirmon, and freshman Tyler Pape are in a three-way battle to start at the position.
Richardson is the incumbent, having started four of CMU's six games in 2020; Sirmon is a first-year transfer from Washington; and Pape, who hails from Spring Arbor, is in his first fall camp.
"This Saturday's going to be big," McElwain said. "Hope to get some more clarity about that position. Right now all three guys have been doing a fantastic job."
Quarterback is one of several positions that should become more defined after Saturday, McElwain added.
"Really what we're hoping to do (on Saturday) is give our young guys a lot of valuable reps so we're able to see who can handle it and who's ready," he said, "and to make sure that those guys are prepared to take valuable reps during the season.
"Really I look at Saturday kind of as moving day for a lot of guys. Excited to see them get out there and get after it."
Regaining Momentum
The Chippewas finished 3-3 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
That record was disappointing, McElwain said, particularly after the Chippewas went 8-6 in 2019, reaching the Mid-American Conference Championship Game for the first time in a decade.
"Everybody went through a bunch of stuff a year ago and quite honestly I think some of us probably used it as an excuse," said McElwain, who is in his third season in charge of the program. "It's a privilege to go out and play the game.
"We've done some things in camp, we've done some things in the offseason, to tear off the rearview mirror. Guys have got to feed off each other for this to really go. It really boils down to leadership in that locker room.
"Not everything's going to be easy and yet sometimes the greatest lessons are learned when you're working your tail off and it's really hard and then you come out and say you know what, we did it.
"We definitely need to get the stinger back a little bit and that's part of that mojo."
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Offense Adjusts After Running Back Lost To Injury - Central Michigan University Chippewas
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