Travis Lewis Is Returning For A Senior Season!

Don't take my word for it. Take his!

This puts Oklahoma with a starting linebacking corps of Lewis on the weak side, Austin Box in the middle and Ronnell Lewis on the strong side. Travis and Austin Box will be seniors and Ronnell Lewis will be a junior which gives Brent Venables a group of upperclassmen at linebacker.

It also makes one less hole to fill on the defense that is losing seniors defensive end Jeremy Beal, strong safety Jonathan Nelson and free safety Quinton Carter. Eight returning starters on defense isn't too shabby!  

UPDATE:  It's official, per OU.  See official statement after the jump.

Oklahoma junior linebacker Travis Lewis announced today that he will return for his senior season of college eligibility.

The San Antonio, Texas native has the ultimate college football accomplishment as his goal.
 
"I'm coming back to win a national championship, point blank" said Lewis. "Anything else would be a disappointment. That is the main goal. This is a program built on a tradition of championships and I intend on being here for another one."

He also said cited his appreciation of OU as a factor.

"I woke up this morning and realized I had made my decision that I was coming back. I don't want to give up being a Sooner yet. I'm having too much fun as one and this is an amazing place to be."

Lewis has been Oklahoma's leading tackler in each of his first three seasons with the Sooners. No player has ever led the program in tackles in four straight seasons.

He has accumulated 362 career tackles, the ninth-best total in school history. In 2010, he became the first OU player since Rocky Calmus to crack the OU top 10 list in that category.

With eight career interceptions, Lewis is tied with Sam Allen (1951-52) for the most by a Sooner linebacker.

"I compliment Travis not only on being a great player, but on making a good decision for his future," said OU Head Coach Bob Stoops. "He is giving himself the chance to improve his status and opportunity with another year of college ball. He'll work hard physically and he'll have another year of playing experience. All of that will translate well to the NFL."

Stoops added that Lewis' return bolsters the 2011 team.

"Travis is a captain who has been a major spark and leader for us," he said. "Having him back can only improve our team and defense."

The Sooners are coming off a 12-2 season in which they won both the Big 12 Championship, their seventh, and the Fiesta Bowl.

Lewis was the leading tackler in that Fiesta Bowl win over Connecticut with 10 and he spearheaded the defense in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship with three takeaways in the form of two fumble recoveries and one interception.