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Academic dedication paved linebacker Kaiwan Lewis' path to Rutgers

PISCATAWAY — In order to pursue his football dream, Kaiwan Lewis had to take care of business in the classroom.

After his junior season at South Carolina, Lewis decided that he would transfer for his final year of eligibility. Lewis drew interest from Nebraska, but the Pleasantville native chose Rutgers.

Lewis appealed to Rutgers because, as a graduate transfer, he'd be able to compete with junior college transfer Isaiah Johnson for the team's vacant middle linebacker job. But in order to earn his criminal justice degree from South Carolina in three years, Lewis had to take 20 credits during the spring and finish his final remaining credits during the summer.