Former Texas A&M star Darren Lewis dies at age 55 from cancer - ESPN

Darren Lewis, the Texas A&M star who broke Eric Dickerson's Southwest Conference rushing record before addiction derailed his football career and post-football life, died Thursday night from cancer. He was 55.

Lewis, who was a star at Dallas' powerhouse Carter High School, was among the country's top prospects in 1987, often mentioned alongside Emmitt Smith. He rushed for 5,012 yards 1987-90, breaking Dickerson's mark (previously held by Earl Campbell) of 4,450 yards, before bowl statistics were included. He finished his career fifth on the NCAA career rushing list, behind Tony Dorsett, Charles White, Herschel Walker and Archie Griffin.

A two-time All-American while in College Station, «Tank,» as he was known because of his punishing running style, is still 1,309 yards ahead of second place on the career rushing list at Texas A&M.

But during the NFL draft process, Lewis said he was exposed to cocaine at parties, and by prospective agents, and was assured he would test clean. Instead, he was the only player who tested positive for cocaine at the combine, and his stock plummeted to the sixth round, where he was drafted by the Chicago Bears, who claimed they did not know of his negative test, and was sent to rehab.

He started just five games among his 33 appearances in the NFL for the Bears, rushing for 431 yards in his career. He never failed a drug test, but he was arrested on domestic battery charges and released in 1993.

Lewis' fall from grace shocked his former coaches, Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum, who stayed in touch with Lewis.

«I just think he's one of those guys that would fall into with his friends, some bad influences,» Slocum said. «He was strong and tough on the football field, but there wasn't a mean bone