Troy WR Chris Lewis out for 2024 season due to cancer treatment

The triumphant feeling of winning a conference championship suddenly seemed inconsequential to Troy wide receiver Chris Lewis a few days later. After Troy’s 49-23 victory over Appalachian State in the Sun Belt title game, Lewis underwent an MRI and heard life-changing news: He received a diagnosis that everyone fears – cancer.

In December of this year, Lewis was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left femur, beginning the most difficult offseason a college athlete could ask for – a season filled with chemotherapy, surgeries and scans instead of scheduled strength training and wide receiver drills.

In a statement released by Lewis through Troy, the receiver announced that he will not compete in the 2024 football season. Instead, he plans to return to campus in the fall and work as a student assistant coach.

Lewis provided more details about his cancer diagnosis on his GoFundMe page, which has raised around $21,000 as of 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 16:

My name is Chris Lewis and I am a redshirt junior WR at Troy University. In December 2023, just days after playing in the Sun Belt Conference Championship, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my left femur.

I had to leave my teammates, friends, coaches and support system in Troy to begin an intensive treatment process that includes 10 weeks of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the mass and then another 10 weeks of chemotherapy. On the field for the Trojans, I finished the 2023 season ranked 16th in the country with 10 touchdown catches and led the country with an average of 22.97 yards per catch. I was mentioned multiple times in the SportsCenter Top 10 for my signature one-handed catches, including the No. 1 and No. 2 plays of the night from my three-touchdown game against South Alabama.

Even with insurance, the financial burden of battling cancer is significant for anyone, but especially for a college student like me, as I must pay out of pocket for the cost of treatment and the medications essential to my fight.

I have worked closely with Troy Athletics to ensure that all donations comply with NCAA rules and that I can return to the football field once I beat cancer.

Lewis was named a Third Team All-Sun Belt selection in his first season at Troy in 2023. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Kentucky, but immediately became an influential player for the Trojans after reuniting with his former Kentucky assistant Jon Sumrall.

Lewis collected 735 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last fall, ranking second and first on the team in those categories, respectively. His 23.0 yards per catch was the best of any FBS receiver with at least 20 receptions and made him one of the most dangerous deep threats in the country. As mentioned in his statement above, Lewis’ hands quickly became visible in highlight reels when he caught two one-handed passes against Kansas State last September.

Lewis will not play in the first year of the Gerad Parker era at Troy, but he will help Parker and his team as the Trojans seek their third consecutive Sun Belt title. Troy begins its 2024 season by hosting Nevada on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.