NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Luke Lehnen, QB – North Central (IL)
3.76 GPA – Exercise Science
Head Coach: Brad Spencer | Athletics Director: Jim Miller
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Daniel "Rocky" VanHorn
Recipient of Coach Lou Saban Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by George M. Steinbrenner III
Luke Lehen proves one can really do it all, having risen to the highest levels on the field as a Gagliardi Trophy winner, in the classroom graduating magna cum laude, and as a leader in the community. The Chatham, Illinois, native, now becomes the first ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete from North Central.
Graduating magna cum laude last December with a 3.76 GPA as an exercise science major, Lehnen is currently pursuing a master's in sports leadership. A two-time CSC First Team Academic All-American, Lehnen is also a two-time Academic All-CCIW (College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) selection and a member of the Dean's List.
Claiming the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy, presented to the best Division III player in the nation, Lehnen has quarterbacked North Central to an astounding 48-2 overall record (including 6-0 thus far this season and currently ranked No. 1). Behind his leadership, the Cardinals won the Division III National Championship in 2022, and they appeared in the title game in 2021 and 2023, finishing as the national runner up. The Cardinals have won three CCIW titles with Lehnen under center, and the team has notched a No. 1 ranking in 30 of the last 33 D3Football.com regular season polls.
A two-year team captain and a 2023 First Team All-American, Lehnen was named the D3Football.com National Offensive Player of the Year and the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. He is a three-time All-CCIW selection, making the First Team in 2023 and 2021 and the Second Team in 2022.
Lehnen made college football history Oct. 19 when he became the first player in any division to throw a touchdown pass in 50 consecutive games. His career totals currently include 10,725 passing yards and 135 touchdowns while rushing for 2,691 yards and 42 touchdowns. He ranks second in Division III with 16.99 yards per completion, and his 201.79 passing efficiency rating ranks fourth. Lehnen led the nation in completion percentage (73.3), touchdown passes (48) and points responsible for (366) last season, and he set Division III records for passing efficiency (263.2), yards per pass (14.7), yards per completion (20.0) and percentage of passes completed for touchdowns (20.7%) in 2023. Lehenen is North Central's all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, and he is the first Cardinal quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Active in the community, Lehnen has volunteered with Special Olympics, Feed My Starving Children, the Northen Illinois Food Bank, a K-8 summer camp and as a strength and conditioning coach for high school teams in his hometown. A two-sport athlete, Lehnen is also a four-year starter and two-time All-CCIW selection with the North Central baseball team.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)
