Dion Lewis Dion John Lewis ( born September 27 , 1990 ) is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft . He played college football at Pittsburgh . Early years . Lewis was born in Albany , New York , where he attended Albany High School , from which he transferred to the Albany Academy and later to Blair Academy . College career . During twelve regular season games of the 2009 season , Lewis accumulated 1 , 640 rushing yards rushing and 17 rushing touchdowns . He rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns in an October 2009 victory over Big East rival Rutgers for which he was named Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Week and featured in " Sports Illustrated " . Following this and later performances , he was mentioned in several news outlets as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate . Lewis had his sixth 100 - yard plus rushing game of the season against Syracuse . He rushed for more than 1 , 799 yards during the 2009 season and broke Craig " Ironhead " Heyward ' s record at Pittsburgh for rushes in a single game with 47 against University of Cincinnati in the Big East Championship game , totaling 194 rushing yards , three touchdowns , as well as five catches for 34 yards . Lewis was the only freshman and one of four running backs named among 15 " Players to Watch " for the 2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year award . He was also among 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award , and was one of ten semifinalists , and the only true freshman , for the Doak Walker Award . Lewis was also honored as a " Midseason All - American " by CBSSports . com and SI . com . Lewis set the Big East freshman rushing record previously held by Tony Dorsett . The lightly recruited running back was third nationally in rushing ( 1 , 799 yards , 5 . 5 avg ) and broke LeSean Mccoy ' s record for most points by a Pitt Freshman on December 5 , 2009 for the Big East championship against the Cincinnati Bearcats . He broke Dorsett ' s record for most rushing yards by a Pitt freshman during the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl , after which he was named the game ' s MVP . Following the conclusion of the regular season , Lewis was named the National Freshman of the Year by the " Sporting News " and CBSSports . com , as well as the Offensive Freshman of the Year by " College Football News " . He was also named a second team All - American by the Associated Press , " Sporting News " , CBSSports . com , " Sports Illustrated " , Rivals . com , and Scout . com . Lewis was the only freshman named to the first or second AP All - American team . Lewis was named both the Big East Conference Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year . Heading into the 2010 , the " Sporting News " , in its 2010 College Football Yearbook , called Lewis " the game ' s most complete runner " and listed him as one of the five leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy . The " Sporting News " also listed Lewis as a first - team preseason All - American . Early January , Lewis declared he would enter the 2011 NFL Draft and forgo his junior and senior seasons . Professional career . Philadelphia Eagles . Lewis was selected with the 149th pick in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles . He was signed to a four - year contract worth $ 2 . 2 million on July 27 , 2011 . Cleveland Browns . On April 11 , 2013 Lewis was traded to the Cleveland Browns for linebacker Emmanuel Acho .