From a Centennial Conference (CC) championship to earning offensive player of the year, 2025 was a banner football season for Gary Lewis ’26

The Franklin & Marshall senior added one more accolade on March 9: NFL Pro Day at the Philadelphia Eagles' indoor facility, NovaCare Complex.

“It was a surreal experience,” said the Diplomat wide receiver, the first F&M player in program history to be named as a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist. The honor recognizes student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics, and community service.

Held at various facilities across the country, NFL Pro Days allow draft-eligible athletes to showcase skills to local scouts. Players complete a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, and position-specific drills. 

The Man in the Arena: Gary Lewis ’26 showcases his skills at a March 9 NFL Pro Day held at the Philadelphia Eagles' indoor facility. (Photo by Michael Phelan)

“You walk into the facility and see all of the Eagles’ Super Bowl stuff on display. You kind of just can't believe you're there,” Lewis said. 

But when it came time to showcase his talent, it was business as usual.

“I would honestly say it’s just like a college recruiting camp. It's the same stuff you've been doing your whole football life, but on a bigger stage,” he said. 

Lewis was one of the few – if not only – players to represent a Division III school. 

“Gary did a tremendous job at his Pro Day representing Franklin & Marshall,” said Michael Phelan, head football coach at F&M. “He approached the day with the same preparation, confidence, and professionalism that he’s shown throughout his career here.

The likelihood of a Diplomat student-athlete going pro in football is improbable, but not impossible: There are currently six Division III players in the NFL. This year’s draft will be held April 23-25.

"The facilities, the campus, and hearing about the alumni network – that's really what drew me here."

Gary Lewis '26

In 2025, Lewis led the Diplomats to their first NCAA tournament in 137 years of football. The team’s 29-28 overtime conference championship victory over Johns Hopkins is arguably the most memorable showdown in Shadek Stadium history. 

”We felt like there was no doubt,” Lewis said of the Nov. 15 game. “We had full belief in our coaches, our play-calling, and in each other. For the last three years, we've been knocking on the door. But this year, we showed that we can actually beat those teams.”

A quiet and contemplative team captain, Lewis prefers to lead by example. 

He ended his collegiate career with the resume to prove it: CC Offensive Player of the Year; second-team Associated Press All-American wide receiver; two-time, first-team All-CC wide receiver; F&M and CC record-holder for career touchdown receptions (40). Lewis also holds the F&M and CC record for single-season touchdown receptions (18 in 2025).

“Gary is the kind of teammate and leader every program hopes to have,” Phelan said. “He puts the team ahead of himself, supports the people around him, and leads by example every single day. The respect he’s earned from his teammates comes from the way he prepares, competes, and carries himself.”

Gary Lewis ’26, Diplomat wide receiver and team captain, was named Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2025.

Raised in Summit, N.J., Lewis and his four older sisters grew up in an athletic household. He’s a lifelong Jets fan (his uncle, Anthony Brown, even played four seasons for the Jets).

A standout athlete beyond the gridiron, Lewis excelled in basketball and track and field while in high school.

While he initially set his sights on a Division I institution, F&M struck the right balance between academics and athletics.

“Just coming here and seeing all the facilities, the campus, and hearing about the alumni network – that's really what drew me here,” Lewis said. 

His major – American studies – offered the broad academic perspectives he was seeking. 

“It gives me a shot to still be versatile and have a lot of different career gateways,” Lewis said.

Lewis is keeping his post-graduate options open, confident in the infinite paths that a liberal arts education can lead to. Perhaps, even, the NFL end zone. 

NFL’s Troy Vincent Named F&M 2026 Commencement Speaker

Troy Vincent, NFL executive and former cornerback, will share his story with F&M’s Class of 2026 as speaker at the College’s Commencement on May 9. His pro career spanned 15 years, including eight standout seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Read More »