{{Short description|American football player (born 2005)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox college football player |name=Peyton Lewis |image= |image_size= |alt= |caption= |school=Virginia Cavaliers |currentnumber= |currentposition=Running back |class=Sophomore |major= |pastschools= * Tennessee (2024–2025) * Virginia (2026–present) |bowlgames= |highschool=Salem (Salem, Virginia) |birth_date= {{birth date and age|2005|11|16}} |birth_place= |height_ft=6 |height_in=1 |weight_lb=212 |highlights= |espn=5122553 }} '''Peyton O'Neil Lewis''' (born November 16, 2005) is an American college football running back for the Virginia Cavaliers. He previously played for the Tennessee Volunteers.
== Early life == Lewis attended Salem High School in Salem, Virginia. As a junior, Lewis rushed for 1,560 yards and 17 touchdowns, and as a senior, he recorded 30 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=2024-08-16 |title=Vols freshman Lewis looking like ‘grown man’ in backfield |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/aug/16/freshman-lewis-looking-like-grown-man-in-vols/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walls |first=Dave |date=2023-12-21 |title=Salem's Peyton Lewis named Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year |url=https://wset.com/sports/high-school-sports/salems-peyton-lewis-named-class-4-offensive-player-of-the-year |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=WSET |language=en}}</ref> He finished his high school football career totaling 3,667 career yards and 52 total touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Eric |date=2024-03-26 |title=1st and 10 Trophy Tour: Salem’s Peyton Lewis |url=https://www.wsls.com/sports/2024/03/26/1st-and-10-trophy-tour-salems-peyton-lewis/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=WSLS |language=en}}</ref> A four-star recruit, Lewis committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee over offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Nick |date=May 27, 2023 |title=2024 4-star RB Peyton Lewis commits to Tennessee football |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/05/27/peyton-lewis-commitment-tennessee-football-recruiting-2024-class/70263831007/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Anthony |date=2023-12-18 |title=Chris Cole, Peyton Lewis celebrate National Signing Day at Salem |url=https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/12/18/chris-cole-peyton-lewis-celebrate-national-signing-day-salem/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=WDBJ7 |language=en}}</ref>
== College career == Lewis earned immediate playing time as a true freshman, appearing in 13 games as a reserve.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=2024-11-18 |title=Lewis making most of role as Sampson’s backup for Vols |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/nov/18/lewis-making-most-of-role-as-sampsons-backup-for/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}}</ref> He finished his first season rushing for 339 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Mark |date=2024-12-18 |title=Tennessee's Lewis has 'out of this world' season jumping from Salem to SEC |url=https://heraldcourier.com/article_a6586797-594f-545d-a8e9-c7a3c4b3d88d.html |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Bristol Herald Courier |language=en}}</ref> Entering the 2025 season, Lewis is part of a three-man running back rotation for Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Craig | title=Tennessee running back rotation proves it’s up to the task of succeeding Dylan Sampson in 2025 | website=Rocky Top Talk|publisher=SB Nation| date=2025-09-01 | url=https://www.rockytoptalk.com/tennessee_volunteer_football/45023/tennessee-vols-football-news-running-back-rotation-proves-its-up-to-the-task-of-succeeding-dylan-sampson-in-2025 | access-date=2025-09-22}}</ref>
On January 7, 2026, Lewis announced his decision to transfer to the University of Virginia to play for the Virginia Cavaliers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madia |first=Greg |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sources: Virginia football lands commitment from Tennessee transfer RB Peyton Lewis |url=https://dailyprogress.com/sports/college/football/virginia-cavaliers/article_25d35f6b-7b83-419b-b068-c681e5b72abb.html |access-date=2026-01-08 |website=The Daily Progress |language=en}}</ref>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{Screen reader-only|College statistics}} ! rowspan="2"| Season ! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="1" | Games ! colspan="4" | Rushing ! colspan="4" | Receiving |- ! GP !! Att !! Yards !! Avg !! TD !! Rec !! Yards !! Avg !! TD |- ! 2024 !Tennessee | 13 || 64 || 339 || 5.3 || 3 || 4 || 14 || 3.5 || 0 |- ! 2025 !Tennessee | 10 || 70 || 290 || 4.1 || 7 || 4 || 42 || 10.5 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/peyton-lewis-1.html Career]!! 23 !! 134 !! 629 !! 4.7 !! 10 !! 8 !! 56 !! 7.0 !! 0 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://virginiasports.com/sports/football/roster/player/peyton-lewis Virginia Cavaliers bio] *[https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/peyton-lewis/22016 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Peyton}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Virginia Category:People from Salem, Virginia Category:American football running backs Category:Salem High School (Salem, Virginia) alumni Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players Category:Virginia Cavaliers football players