2018 Oregon Speedster Braden Lenzy Gets Notre Dame Offer

2018 Tigard (Ore.) athlete Braden Lenzy had told Irish Sports Daily last week he was talking to Notre Dame and was hopeful an offer was coming his way soon. The 6-foot, 160-pound speedster was actually in East Lansing at Michigan State on an unofficial visit when he added an offer from the Irish.

“We had been talking a bit and they wanted to talk on the phone, so I gave them a call on Saturday night,” Lenzy said on Saturday night. “They told told how they liked my film and I talked to Coach Mike Denbrock. He told me a little about himself and he said he really liked me and I resembled Will Fuller in their eyes.

“Coach Denbrock said they were going to pursue me really hard and that they were giving me a scholarship offer. It wasn’t a long conversation, but it definitely seemed sincere.”

Lenzy is in the Midwest this weekend, but it’s unlikely he will have time to swing down to South Bend. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t interested in the Irish.  

“I am going to look deep into them and I will probably be visiting as soon as possible,” he stated. “I am excited to start getting serious about my recruiting process.”

The Oregon native has seen his recruitment start to pickup and now holds nine offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Cal, Illinois, Michigan State, Oregon, Oregon State, Purdue, UCLA and Washington State.

“It’s a humbling process for sure,” Lenzy said of the early attention. “The first couple you feel it’s a great opportunity to play college football. You’re not questioning yourself, but you kind of think you can play at the next level. Then you start getting the Michigan State and Notre Dame offers, you’re like ‘OK, that’s some big-time stuff.’ That’s pretty special for an Oregon kid.

“It’s been a really cool process. It’s been a little stressful, but totally worth it.”

With Lenzy on the West Coast, some might be hesitant about Notre Dame’s chances of landing one of top players from out West, but his father is from Ohio and his mother is from Indiana. The Lenzy family also knows some Notre Dame alumni, so this is easily a recruitment Notre Dame fans should be dialed in to.

“My family is out in the Midwest and my freshman year I visited Purdue,” explained Lenzy. “This is my first visit to Michigan State. This place is huge. I’ve been to Stanford and I think Michigan State is actually bigger than Stanford. It’s crazy.

“I know a few family friends attended Notre Dame as students and not for sports. I’ve heard about it. I haven’t been necessarily a fan, but I know their brand of football and especially academics. I am looking for a good academic school, so I am definitely going to consider them.”

On film, it’s clear Lenzy has a ton of speed and now it will come down to figuring out where he wants to play. Lenzy is a two-way athlete and could play defensive back or receiver in college.  

“Notre Dame was talking to me about both sides of the ball, but then they started talking about receiver and offered me as a receiver,” stated Lenzy. “I wouldn’t say I have preference, but lately I have been leaning towards the offensive side of the ball. I am not set on either side yet.”

In terms of his visits, Lenzy isn’t looking to make a decision, but rather looking for information to help him know what he is looking for in school.  

“I am looking to just experience and get a feel for every school right now,” said Lenzy. “I want to go into my senior year and have a better feeling for the schools, then I can decide on where I want to take my official visits.”