2018 Four-Star WR Braden Lenzy Sets Notre Dame Official Visit
Almost a year ago, 2018 Tigard (Ore.) receiver Braden Lenzy was offered by Notre Dame while on a visit to Michigan State, and the four-prospect will be back on campus this weekend for an official visit for The Echoes after decommitting from Oregon earlier this week.
The Irish were in-home on Wednesday night with Lenzy, so it’s not a total shock the former Notre Dame commit would set a return to South Bend.
On National Signing Day last February, Notre Dame head coach had a simple quote:
“We want some guys that can change the game on offense with elite speed.”
Lenzy fits the bill and then some. The Tigard standout has been clocked at a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash and a 4.26 shuttle. On the track, Lenzy also excels as he ran 10.62 in the 100m and 21.34 in the 200m this spring.
For comparison’s sake, Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Troy Pride Jr. ran a 21.75 in the 200m at the ACC Indoor Championship in the spring for his personal record.
But the track thing could be the thing that hinders Notre Dame, as Lenzy decommitted from the Irish to run track and play football for the Ducks. Can Notre Dame show him they are committed to letting him do both and is Notre Dame’s track program good enough for Lenzy?
Those are questions that staff will answer on his official visit.
When it comes to his play on the field, Tigard head coach Craig Ruecker has seen a lot of talented players, but none quite like Lenzy.
“In my 46 years of coaching, I’ve had kids who have had as much talent as Braden has, but did not have a work ethic, didn’t have study habits that were conducive to going to college,” Rueker stated. “Then we’ve had other kids who have a great work ethic, great academics, but they don’t have the talent. Braden is blessed to have both of those things.”
“You don’t teach a kid 4.4-speed, so he has that that he’s blessed with. He’s also been blessed to have a wonderful family to grow up in with great role models. Both his mom and dad graduated from Purdue. He has been given the mentoring to work hard and to achieve as a young man, as an athlete, and in the classroom. Those are some things that make him, outside of playing the game of football, a pretty special kid.”
There’s still a long way to go in this recruitment, but Notre Dame getting him to campus so soon after decommitting from Oregon is a good thing. Lenzy’s ties to the Midwest go deep as his father is from Ohio and his mother is from Indiana, so while he’d be leaving home to attend Notre Dame, he’d be coming home too.
We expect Notre Dame to battle Michigan State, Oregon and UCLA, but there are other schools that could enter the mix.
Senior Highlights