— This hasn't exactly been the career Malcolm Lewis imagined when he arrived at Miami.

As a four-star prospect out of Miramar High, one of South Florida's powerhouse programs, the expectation was that Lewis would become one of the Hurricanes next great receivers.

And as a freshman in 2012, Lewis showed flashes of what made him such a highly-recruited player.

He played in four games, including the Hurricanes' season-opening win at Boston College where he had four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. Two weeks later, he got his first start when the Hurricanes hosted Bethune-Cookman, but by the end of September, his season was over.

During Miami's game at Georgia Tech, Lewis dislocated his left ankle in a gruesome injury. Miami coach Al Golden cradled the receiver in his arms and tried to comfort Lewis while he received medical attention on the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

And though Lewis worked his way back into the Hurricanes' lineup last season, injuries again, struck.

First, a groin issue that slowed him. Then problems with his wrist. He tried to play through the pain, but football hurt and the sophomore said he didn't feel like himself again until this past spring.

As the Hurricanes prepare to begin another season when they travel to Louisville on Monday, Lewis is hopeful his body will cooperate and he can finally be the player he's wanted to be at Miami.

"I just thank God every day for giving me another chance to play at the potential I'm playing at right now," said Lewis, who had seven catches for 71 yards in 11 games last season. "It all just gave me something to push myself even harder, knowing I have extra things to do. I've gone harder and harder doing extra work trying to get back to where I was, or even better."

Through camp, every indication is that Lewis is playing at a high level.

The Hurricanes have plenty of talent at receiver with Phillip Dorsett, Stacy Coley, and Herb Waters back and freshmen Braxton Berrios and Tyre Brady joining the team, but Lewis managed to earn a spot atop the lone depth chart Miami released during camp and he's been wearing an orange starter's jersey in the days leading up to the opener at Louisville.

He's lost weight, become leaner and has shown some of the speed Golden remembers.

"He's quicker now, his endurance, his stamina is better," Golden said. "Not only was he coming off an injury, but he had an injury that was nagging him down the stretch in November and December. He had to have surgery, get fixed up and he's made a complete overhaul to his body. He's having a great camp…he's catching everything. He has the confidence to go full speed all the time and know he's not going to get tired. He just did a great job with his body."

Now, Lewis says, it's time to put everything together.

He spent time during the off season working with freshman Brad Kaaya, trying to perfect his timing with the freshman quarterback who was named Miami's starter earlier this week.

And Lewis he's entering the season with a whole new appreciation for the game—and his health.

"I feel like I can break any guy down now. I don't have anything holding me back," he said. "I can just be full speed at everything. Play every play like it's your last."

ccabrera@tribune.com; On Twitter @ChristyChirinos.