In 1993, at the age of eight, Marcedes gained a role model and father figure when Yvonne met, and eventually married, Michael Withers. The family soon expanded with the birth of a third brother, Cody in 1994, and sister, Niki in 1996. In order to give their children a better life, Yvonne and Michael relocated the family to Lakewood, California when Marcedes was 13 years old.
Marcedes’ passion for football blossomed at the age of eight as he progressed in Long Beach Poly Pop Warner. It wasn’t until the summer prior to starting high school that he began to play organized basketball. While attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, Marcedes flourished on the football field as well as the basketball court. This commitment to excellence helped him earn three varsity letters in each sport. With his dominant skills, massive size and dedication, Marcedes and his teammates rallied to win two varsity championships in basketball and three in football while at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Marcedes’ high school success gave him endless opportunities to attend some of the best colleges in the U.S., which recruited him for both football and basketball.
In 2002, Marcedes began his collgiate career at UCLA as a two-sport standout. After one year of year-round athletics, the travel for games began to take a toll and his grades began to drop. At the culmination of his freshmen year in college Yvonne encouraged Marcedes to focus solely on his first passion, football, making it the last semester he played basketball for UCLA. This decision paid off in 2005 when Marcedes won the John Mackey Award for the best tight end in college football, making him the only athlete in UCLA history to receive the honor. He was also ranked first amongst UCLA tight ends with a recorded 1,571 yards receiving and 21 touchdowns. Academically, Marcedes was selected to the Dean’s Honor Roll during his most successful semesters at UCLA where he majored in History, with Economics being his favorite class.
In 2006, Marcedes Alexis Lewis was selected 28th in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. After five years in the League, his hard work and determination paid off in January 2011 when he made his debut as an AFC Pro Bowl starter. This memorable experience was topped off with a 28 yard reception touchdown. With the end of his contract looming, the Jacksonville Jaguars assigned the franchise tag to Marcedes on February 24, 2011.
Just like his childhood hero, Michael Jordan, Marcedes is committed to giving back to his community. The Marcedes Lewis Foundation was established in 2009 with the purpose of helping students by providing academic and sports scholarships. Additionally, in June, the Foundation hosts its annual football camps in Long Beach, California, welcoming up to 500 children, free of cost!
