No Cruise Control for ‘Benz’

His classmates called him “Benz” and acquaintances used to tease him mercilessly. Even now Marcedes Lewis, Long Beach Poly High’s senior tight end, hears countless bad jokes about his unusual first name.

For the record, it’s pronounced Mar-say-deez. Not like the high-priced, German luxury automobile.

“I didn’t like it when I was younger,” Lewis said. “I was like, ‘Marcedes, that’s a girl’s name.’ Now, it’s like, whatever. Everybody knows me, everybody’s cool with it, so I’m cool with it.”

The number who mispronounce his name is sure to grow the next few years, when Lewis begins playing for a high-profile Division I college program.

He is considered the second-best tight end among the nation’s top 200 high school players, ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said.

“He looks like an NFL tight end already,” Lemming said.

His 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame and 4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash have helped place him among the nation’s most sought-after prospects.

First, though, Lewis must finish his high school career. So far, he has had little difficulty against overmatched defensive backs and linebackers. He caught 22 passes for 313 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. He dominated in short stints at defensive end, as well, with four sacks as a third-down pass rusher.

College recruiters swarmed, but it didn’t take long for him to decide on UCLA. Also a standout basketball player, Lewis received tickets from UCLA basketball Coach Steve Lavin for the Bruins’ game against Stanford last March at Pauley Pavilion.

Earlier in the day, Lewis met with UCLA football Coach Bob Toledo and committed for the fall of 2002.

“He didn’t expect it,” Lewis said. “He thought we were just going to talk. Then when I committed, he cried.”

So, no doubt, did other coaches who had spent hours trying to persuade Lewis to commit to their schools.

Last spring, assistant coaches from Florida, Nebraska, Florida State and Tennessee watched practices of Poly’s football team, ranked No. 1 in the nation by some magazines and newspapers. The coaches marveled at Lewis’s speed and his knack for the ball ... on defense.

“The Nebraska scout was watching him making sacks left and right and was like, ‘[He’s a] tight end?’ ” said Raul Lara, Poly’s first-year head coach. “ ‘He’s an All-American defensive end. ‘ “

Coaches are still trying to change his mind, and the calls aren’t expected to end until Feb. 6, the first official signing day for football players. Until then, Lewis plans on remaining polite to the coaches but firm: He’s already made up his mind.

He’ll receive a football scholarship to UCLA, but he also hopes to play basketball as a walk-on. He has spoken with the basketball coaches, attended several games and “loves” Lavin.

“That’s where I’m going,” Lewis said. “People keep telling me, ‘Marcedes, why did you commit? You should take the [recruiting] trips.’ I’m like, I’ll take the trips when I get to UCLA. I’m not worried about going on trips right now.”

His main focus the next few months will be high school athletics and academics. He will take the SAT in October--for the first time--and is looking forward to improving on the football numbers he put up during his junior season, beginning on Sept. 7, in Poly’s season opener against Westchester.

“The scary thing about our team is that our linemen are working, “ Lewis said. “They’re running, they’re keeping pace with the linebackers. When you’ve got your linemen working, that’s scary.”

Lewis, who said he gained 15 pounds of muscle in an off-season conditioning program, will be used primarily at tight end but will occasionally line up as a wide receiver. He will play defensive end in the “fast group,” which sees action on third-and-long situations, when putting pressure on the quarterback will be his primary responsibility.

But it’s his skills on offense that initially captured the attention of recruiters. During a recent drill, he lined up at receiver, ran a fly pattern, beat the cornerback and safety downfield by a few yards, and easily caught a pass for a touchdown.

It has become a familiar sight.

Poly’s coaching staff has devised several plays to feature their standout tight end. One they call simply, “Benz.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

How They Rate

Ranking the top tight ends in the Southland

CITY SECTION

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Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. Comment 1. Eric Beegun Palisades 6-2 215 Sr. Strong, athletic and acrobatic 2. John Rodriguez Carson 6-2 220 Jr. Caught five touchdowns as sophomore 3. John Dillon San Pedro 6-3 210 Sr. Caught 17 passes last season 4. Chris Catoe Woodland Hills Taft 6-3 190 Sr. Basketball player with football instincts 5. David Stanton Woodland Hills El Camino Real 6-5 220 Sr. Made tremendous summer improvement

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SOUTHERN SECTION

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Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. Comment 1. Marcedes Lewis Long Beach Poly 6-6 225 Sr. Possesses all qualities to be top TE 2. Chris Barrett Tustin 6-5 230 Jr. He’s getting good very fast 3. J.J. Hair Capistrano Valley 6-6 235 Sr. Committed to UCLA 4. Chad Glover Torrance Bishop Montgomery 6-6 230 Sr. A student with A work ethic 5. Lawrence Jackson Inglewood 6-5 230 Jr. Gets down field fast 6. Landon Lee Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon 6-5 235 Sr. Loves to send linebackers flying 7. Josh Smith Santa Monica 6-3 255 Sr. Three-year starter 8. Caleb Rangel Covina Charter Oak 6-4 220 Sr. Critical blocker 9. Sean Helvey Whittier La Serna 6-5 223 Sr. Three-year starter 10. Deshalen Barber L.A. Verbum Dei 6-4 215 Sr. Athletic and reliable target 11. Colin Murphy Anaheim Servite 6-3 250 Sr. Returning all-leaguer 12. Joe Killefer L.A. Loyola 6-3 219 Sr. Surfer, rugby player, pass catcher 13. Jordan Hawkins Ojai Nordhoff 6-3 220 Sr. Has strength and coordination to excel

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Compiled by Eric Sondheimer