Height: 6-footWeight: 180 pounds
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
High School: Hempstead
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds*
Vertical Leap: 34 inches*
HS Position: Running back/Safety
2008 HS Statistics: 1,378 rush yards, 8.6 yards/attempt, 18 touchdowns (16 rushing), 372 kick return yards; Defense-- 103 tackles, 4 interceptions
College Position: Slot Receiver
Birth Date: September 22, 1990
Potential Major at ISU: Business
Favorite Sport: Football/Basketball
Favorite Athlete: Don’t have one
Favorite Pro Team: Cubs for baseball, Chiefs for football
Favorite Movie: Friday Night Lights
Favorite TV Show: CSI
Favorite Food: Meatloaf
Hobbies: Golfing, Hanging out with friends
Biggest Influence: Mom and Dad
Person I’d Most Like to Meet: Will Smith
In My iPod: Kid Cudi, Charles Hamilton, BoB
Favorite Websites: Facebook, ESPN, CycloneReport, CycloneFanatic, YouTube
*According to Rivals.com
--Image from Scout.com
Signature Plays
Josh Lenz, an Iowa State bound football recruit, is most well-known on the football field for his shiftiness, change of direction, killer speed and playmaking ability. I’ve handpicked the following four plays from Lenz’s YouTube highlight videos to best display these attributes.
For each play, Lenz offers some of his own commentary (in the text below), letting you know what he was thinking or what specifically happened on that particular play.
All plays occurred last year, Lenz’s senior year in high school at Dubuque Hempstead. Just look for No. 20, the guy that’s featured in every play of the highlight reel. Here’s where to find these four plays within the YouTube videos:
Play No. 4: 1:50 mark of the 2nd video
Play No. 3: 4:16 mark of the 1st video
Play No. 2: 4:49 mark of the 2nd video
Play No. 1: 3:09 mark of the 2nd video
Video No. 1
Video No. 2
#4: 86-yard punt return for TD versus Iowa City West
Peddling backward, Lenz caught the punt as the coverage rushed to meet him. Lenz easily evaded the first potential tackler with a quick stutter to the outside before turning it back up the middle of the field.
A gaping hole opened up right down the center. Lenz darted through it, breaking the grasp of a would be tackler. From there Lenz whizzed by the punter and off to the end zone--Touchdown!
Lenz’s take:
“It was the first game of the year and we hadn’t gone over much. Right when I caught it I didn’t think there was much there. I was able to break through and I was off to the races.”
What do you look for when returning a punt?
“I look for who’s got his guy set up. If it’s a designed return I head for where the blocking is. You don’t think much, you just react to what you see. I was just trying to make a play.”
#3: 80-yard rushing TD versus Burlington
Lenz’s underdog Mustang team went 5-4 during the regular season, securing a first round playoff match up with Burlington. Lenz showed his ability to compete on the big stage, scampering 80 yards for a touchdown to help his team to an upset victory.
The play was the patented “Right 28 sweep” in the T-formation offense Lenz’s team used. All Lenz had to do was run to the left and win the footrace to the end zone. Nobody touched him on his way to six points.
“I like the sweep. I like to get to the outside and outrun guys. On that play, all our guys were blocking the way they were supposed to and I was able to outrun them.”
#2: 53-yard rushing TD versus Cedar Rapids Prairie -- great juke
Play No. 2 of Lenz’s signature highlights from the 2008 season resembled play No. 3. It was the same play call. Only Lenz had to do a bit more work to get into the end zone on this one.
The Cedar Rapids Prairie defense sunk in, expecting a run up the middle on a play that begin at the Mustang’s own 47 yard-line. Somehow the defense let Lenz easily slip to the outside where he is as slippery as a greased pig.
As a safety came to greet him at the Prairie 45-yard line, Lenz faked to the outside and burst back to the inside. All the defender could do was crumple to a knee. Lenz raced down the right sideline--Touchdown!
“I like to do that (juke) a lot,” Lenz said. “When I get out there one-on-one, I like to stutter a little bit and get to the outside. I get them to stop in their tracks and use my speed to get around them.
“It’s all instinctive. I’m just reacting to what they’re doing. If I get them to stop, I try freaking them.”
#1: 68-yard interception return for TD versus Dubuque Wahlert
Intracity rivalry games are always a big deal in local communities. The rivalry between Hempstead and Wahlert is no different. The 2008 match up featured a pair of Division I athletes in Eric May, an Iowa basketball recruit, and Lenz.
Lenz would get the upper hand, making a play that gave the Mustangs the momentum and played a large role in the victory.
With the clock winding at the end of the first half. May, the Wahlert quarterback, heaved a wobbly pass 17 yards downfield over the head of his intended slot receiver. Lenz, playing his safety position, plucked the ball out of the air and immediately sensed an opportunity.
Using his speed and open field ability, Lenz weaved through traffic and as often happened, nobody could even get a finger on him--until May whirled Lenz to the ground after he had already broke the plane of the end zone.
Lenz’s take:
“We were in cover two. I just remember backing off and then (receiver Nick) Brautigam going across the middle. I saw Eric (May) throw it and I made a play on it. Then I just outran everybody to the end zone.”
Lenz Links
ESPN.com Recruiting Profile
Rivals.com Recruiting Profile
Scout.com Recruiting Profile
Interviews from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Photos of Lenz at Signing Day
Dubuque Telegraph Herald Article: "Lenz Picks ISU"
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