ALLEN PARK -- They call him The Hammer.

Ronnell Lewis was given the nickname during his freshman season by Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops after delivering a pair of punishing hits on kickoff coverage in the team's bowl game.

After selecting him in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions want the 6-foot-1, 253 pound Lewis to bring that hard-hitting attitude to their special teams units as well.

General manager Martin Mayhew said the team views Lewis as a four-phase special teamer, meaning he'll be asked to contribute on kickoff returns and coverage as well as punt returns and coverage.

Lewis primarily played defensive end for the Sooners, but the Lions aren't quite sure where he fits in their scheme. Coach Jim Schwartz said Lewis is a bit shorter than the team's other edge rushers, but he can't ignore the productivity at Oklahoma.

"He's a little bit of a tweener when it comes to linebacker-defensive end, but the one thing he's not in between on is being able to make plays," coach Jim Schwartz said.

Like many young players, Lewis is willing to do whatever asked of him for a chance to get on the field.

"I feel comfortable either way," he said. "Wherever the coaches put me is where I'll play, be comfortable, and be happy as long, as I'm getting an opportunity."

While he's all business on the football field, Lewis has some unique hobbies. Growing up in the rural Oklahoma town of Dewar, he's a big fan of horseback riding. While still in high school, he even tried his hand at bull riding.

"It's an adrenaline rush, like taking a skydive or swimming with sharks," Lewis said. "It's pretty intense. It's real dangerous, but I consider myself as a guy that lives on the edge and likes that adrenaline."

With his rodeo days are behind him, Lewis' adrenaline rush will need to come from crushing the ball carrier in front of a home crowd at Ford Field.