Lenzy Focused on Growth & Explosive Plays
When Notre Dame receiver Braden Lenzy arrived on campus a year and a half ago, he was arguably the fastest player on the roster.
The Tigard (Ore.) native didn't take a snap in a game last fall, but Lenzy will be the first to tell you he needed to improve his game.
"It's different," Lenzy said of 2018 vs. 2019. "I wouldn't say better or worse. I think last year changed my mindset. I wouldn't say I had things easy coming in, but I realized I needed to do a lot more and I couldn't just be the fast guy. Even though I am the fast guy, there are a lot of other parts of my game I needed to vastly improve.
"I realized you can't come to college and do one thing. You have to do a lot because everyone is good."
The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder spent the year on the scout team as a freshman and while it was frustrating at times, Lenzy made the best of it.
"That part was great," Lenzy responded when asked if playing this year was better than redshirting. "It's just playing ball. Last year, I was happy. We were 12-0 and in the College Football Playoff. I was extremely excited. I took a lot of pride in being on the scout team because I feel like we really helped the defense. It's cool now to help out the offense.
"I wouldn't say it's any different, but selfishly, my family can come see me play. As far as satisfaction, whatever helps the team is fine with me."
Lenzy has helped the Irish offense this year as he's made explosive plays when given the opportunity.
Saturday was the latest as Lenzy took a jet sweep 61 yards to house against Boston College.
"Honestly, the most effective part of the whole play is the fakes within it," explained Lenzy. "The offensive line is so big and then the way Ian (Book) and the running backs fake it, the slightest hesitation, if I'm even, it's difficult for defenders to catch me. I have great lead blockers and I made my way through."
If defenses aren't accounting for Lenzy, they might want to start. However, Lenzy brings up a valid point, which is why the Notre Dame offense could be moving to new heights in the month of November.
"I guess they kind of know, but in all honesty, are you going to worry about me when Cole Kmet and Chase Claypool are on the field," said Lenzy. "I feel like I'm the least of their concerns.
"That's what I have to do for us. The slightest hesitation - If the safety peaks at me, Chase is over the top for a touchdown."
When looking at the big picture, it's hard for Notre Dame fans not to get excited seeing Lenzy, Lawrence Keys III and Kevin Austin Jr. as a potential starting lineup next fall.
"Wherever they put me, I'll be ready," stated Lenzy. "If you're looking at a preview for next year, two of our big guys - three with Javon (McKinley, you don't know what he's going to do. Hopefully, he comes back.
"There's a lot of opportunity. I'm really excited and I think a lot of us young guys are very ready. Even though we might be younger, we have good experience for next year."
Lenzy knows Notre Dame's receiver corps has a chance to be special in 2020 and it will be about putting in the work between now and then.
You can take a slight hesitation and get a touchdown," said Lenzy. "That's really been shown especially with Keys as well too. We're getting a good mesh of guys and we're really doing what we need to do on offense. Things are really clicking."