No Solo Homecoming
Aug 06, 2026 08:20AM ● By Kelsey Swire
Photo: McNeese Athletics
Lewis makes McNeese his last stop
By Jim Gazzolo
Solo Lewis grew up watching McNeese football.
A local kid, he played his high school ball down the road at Lake Charles Prep.
Like many others over the last five years, he wanted to get away after the storms of 2020, and McNeese had little to offer with its damaged campus. But Lewis always kept one eye on McNeese.
After playing at Louisiana Tech and Nicholls, Lewis decided to finish his career back home, where familiar surroundings have been upgraded.
“It’s a different place, but it is still the same,” said Lewis, who transferred from Southland Conference foe Nicholls after one season. “I was always a McNeese fan. This is where I grew up.”
Like several others on this Cowboy team, Lewis finds himself back in Lake Charles after spending time elsewhere as his college football days wind down.
“I do like being home,” said Lewis. “It is a fresh start but with a lot of support around me. I have a lot of family and friends who are behind me here.”
Lewis is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound receiver who is still looking for a breakout season. His best year came in 2024, when he had 16 catches for 220 yards and three touchdowns for Louisiana Tech. Now he wants his homecoming to be his best.
“Being back, it pushes me to go that much harder every day to get where I want to be,” said Lewis. “There is a lot of talent on this team, guys who want to be here working hard for this season.”
As for playing with a team that just last fall was a rival, Lewis has no problem with the transition.
“Football is football,” he said. “You have to work with everybody to accomplish the goal. This group has a great opportunity here to win a championship and get McNeese back to where it belongs.
“We are excited to work every day. We have a lot of pride trying to take this place back to the championship days.”
It’s the main reason Lewis came back home.
Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.