D.J. Lewis was close to leaving Alabama.
Stressed about the financial responsibility of paying for school and eager to be more than a practice player, the Birmingham native explored other options this past summer.
It came down to a choice: Stay with the Crimson Tide as a walk-on or transfer to Tennessee Tech, where he would've been on scholarship and in the mix for a significant role on defense.
Lewis went back and forth, weighing the pros and cons of each situation before making his decision to remain with the Tide.
"It was really tough for him," said Lewis' personal trainer, Christian Roshell.