The foundation of any football team lies on both sides of the line of scrimmage – the offensive and defensive lines. West Virginia football is of the same mind, recruiting the offensive and defensive lines heavily in the next few recruiting cycles.
One of those offensive linemen is 2023 offensive guard Connor Lew from Kennesaw Mountain High School in Acworth, Georgia. Lew, who was only just recently added to the 247Sports database, stands at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds. The rising junior has offers from Georgia Tech, Miami (Oh.), Virginia and Virginia Tech.
(Courtesy of Connor Lew)
While Lew and the Mustangs were not able to finish the season the way they probably hoped for, going 4-6 in Georgia Class 6-A football with a one-point first-round playoff loss to River Ridge High School, Lew earned second-team All-Region honors.
Just a sophomore last season, Lew displayed just what makes him a highly sought-after recruit, flashing bruising strength at the point of contact and shifty footwork in pass protection across all three offensive line positions. He can create holes for the halfback against interior linemen or push edge rushers to the outside to give his quarterback time in the pocket. In a culture of hard work and accountability, Lew feels that he’d be an excellent fit with WVU.
“I go all in,” Lew told WVSN. “You can’t deny my disciplined work ethic. I consider myself a great fit for a culture of commitment and competition.”
Georgia has been a strong recruiting base for head coach Neal Brown and crew this class but Lew admitted that he wasn’t expecting any interest from WVU. Despite the surprise, Lew said it meant a lot to him to be recognized. It’s a gratifying experience, he said, to have your hard work and results noticed. After Kennesaw Mountain head coach Caleb Carmean sent Lew the WVU information, Lew had his first call with WVU special teams and inside linebacker coach Jeff Koonz.
(Courtesy of Connor Lew)
“It was a good first call,” Lew said. “The next step is to talk to the rest of the coaches. I look forward to learning more about WVU and the football program.”
Only a rising high school junior, Lew has plenty of time to make his college decision, and the recruiting process has been good for him – it’s even served to motivate him further.
“It pushes me to work harder knowing that someone’s always watching,” Lew said.
Aside from just playing football – either for Kennesaw Mountain or numerous camps he’s been invited to – Lew has kept busy. When not padded up on the gridiron, Lew can still be found on the field. Just, he’s been holding a coach’s clipboard this time. As a coach for a local youth flag football league, Lew said his time directing players, aged between kindergarten and eighth grade, has allowed him to see the game from a coaching standpoint rather than just as a player. While he’s been able to stay involved with the game of football while not playing, it’s been nice to still be able to positively affect young football players.
“It is really important to me to help others realize their full potential, especially the up-and-coming classes,” Lew said. “I have been blessed with such great coaches who want to see me succeed and I felt like that was a great way to pay it forward.”
With Lew’s decision day still so far away, a lot could change in his recruiting process. However, it’s clear that he has the qualities WVU is looking for.
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
