ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Taylor Lewan first gained fame about 45 minutes west of Detroit, where he was known as a character, jokester and big left tackle for the University of Michigan.

He developed into an eventual first-round draft pick, but early in Lewan’s college career he was known mostly for one thing: the mustache tattoo on his finger. As a joke, he would sometimes lift the mustache to his face.

And it played well.

Now, Lewan has the real thing growing on his face, and the Tennessee Titans left tackle believes it is one of the best facial-hair decisions around.

“If there were a Pro Bowl for mustaches, mine would be in the Pro Bowl,” Lewan said. “I don’t know, I’ve committed to this mustache. It’s not supposed to be a new thing, it’s just where I choose to live my life right now, so I got the handle bars going and that’s what it is.”

It’s not the first time Lewan has grown a mustache. He did it in 2015, but after a Twitter account was created about the mustache, he shaved it off. Now it's back.

While mustaches are fun to talk about with Lewan, he also knows he has a big task ahead Sunday. He’ll have to deal with Pro Bowl Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. While Ansah didn’t have any sacks in the season opener against Indianapolis, he is one of the league’s premier pass rushers.

And it’s a match-up that Lewan is excited about.

“I think if you want to be one of the best players in the NFL you have to go against the best,” Lewan said. “Playing left tackle you get that opportunity every single week going up against the best rushers.

“I consider it a huge opportunity and I honestly cannot wait.”

The NFL Pro Bowl is a place Lewan would eventually like to be -- where he could consider himself more than just a Pro Bowl mustache-wearer. If he’s able to contain Ansah against the Lions, it would be another step toward possibly reaching that goal.

And it’s likely both the mustache on his face and the one on his finger would be there when he made the Pro Bowl. Because while he knows he can shave the mustache on his face, the one on his finger would be tougher to remove.

“That’s the thing about tattoos, friend,” Lewan said. “Tattoos stay for life, so that thing is still around.”