It always helps, in any discipline, to have a good teacher.
University of Charleston junior defensive back Zaire Lewis was lucky to have one of the Mountain East Conference's best in learning how to patrol the Golden Eagles' secondary.
Lewis spent most of his game days as a spectator his freshman year, watching senior Isaiah Gibson work his way toward an All-MEC first-team selection. Those lessons helped so much that, when Lewis became a starter as a sophomore, he was named to the All-MEC first team.
This season, Lewis assumes an upperclassman's role, taking what he's learned - especially concerning intangibles - and trying to grow even more as a player.
Lewis entered the UC program as a wide receiver, but head coach Pat Kirkland knew that if the Golden Eagles needed to switch a receiver into the secondary, Lewis was the top candidate. Circumstances became such that Lewis did make the move about a week into preseason camp as a freshman.
There, he learned beside Gibson, and said the senior's lessons were invaluable.
"Whatever he did, I did," Lewis said. "I pretty much absorbed everything he did on the field, so I could do it myself."
Lewis didn't get a ton of game reps as a freshman, but Kirkland could see through practices that a good defender was being molded.
"He has a defensive mentality," Kirkland said. "He's a physical kid. He just goes out there and does his job and does it hard. We ask him to be a good blitzer and be good in the run game, but we also ask him to drop into zone coverage and play man-to-man. He's done a great job of handling it."
As Gibson's apprentice, Lewis played in eight games as a freshman, recording three tackles, two solo. It became Lewis' time to shine as a sophomore and, with a starting job secured, he quickly blossomed into one of the MEC's best.
He intercepted six passes in 2015. John Knox was the next closest Golden Eagle with three. Lewis broke up two more passes and recorded 33 tackles, 19 solo, with a tackle for a loss. He was one of four UC defenders to named to the all-conference first team.
It wasn't just the playing side of the game where Gibson helped Lewis.
"Learning a leadership role, always knowing your responsibilities and just being vocal out there, always knowing what to do," Lewis said.
Maintaining a strong voice wasn't always easy as a young first-year starter among several veterans, but those vets appreciated the effort Lewis gave in trying to be an on-field leader. They loved the effort he gave in helping neutralize opposing offenses.
As a junior, Lewis said his growth comes in his consistency. As a spur, a safety-linebacker combo position, he is called upon to be effective against both the run and pass. That leaves little room for soft spots in a player's game, and Lewis wants to see none.
"Just being fundamentally sound with everything," Lewis said. "Don't know 90 percent of what the offense is going to do, know 100 percent. Know everything. Don't have any holes out there when you play."
After an all-conference season, Lewis now is a known commodity, both to the rest of the MEC and his team. What opponents and teammates are expecting from him are the same things he expects from himself.
"Now I'm really supposed to show out," he said. "I'm supposed to be even better."
Contact Derek Redd at 304-348-1712 or derek.redd@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @derekredd.