Kenney Lyke hadn’t quite expected the recent run on scholarship offers.
Over the last month Lyke, a three-star safety from Fremd High School in Palatine, Ill., has hit the road with Core 6 Athletes for a couple major 7-on-7 tournaments. His performances along the way have brought on more interest from college programs.
Army, Bowling Green, Iowa, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Pittsburgh, Toledo and Western Michigan have now offered.
“Well the Core 6 thing definitely helps,” Lyke said, “seeing if I can cover or not even though most of the schools are saying they’re gonna put me down in the box. But just seeing that I can go out there and compete with the best helps.”
Lyke is also fielding interest from Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State.
Irish associate head coach Mike Denbrock, who recruits Illinois, has made more contact in recent weeks. Lyke plans to follow up with a March 21 junior day visit.
“Coach Mike Denbrock was telling me that the coaching staff likes my film and they want to get to meet me as a person and all that,” Lyke said. “We’re gonna go from there. They invited me down for the junior day.”
Lyke plans to visit Ohio State on March 10, Illinois on March 13 and Penn State later in the month. He’s previously seen Michigan State (three times), Iowa, Northern Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Purdue.
Notre Dame is a somewhat familiar program despite not having received a visit.
“I’ve gotta learn more about it,” Lyke said. “But I know it’s big time football. They’re televised every week. They’re everywhere. You can search up Notre Dame football and those are the main things.”
Since it will be a first trip to most places in the coming month, Lyke has an idea of the things for which he’ll be looking when it comes to the initial impression.
“You look for just how it feels to you,” he said. “That’s probably the most and what you think you can get out of it. What you can get out of just being there football-wise and everything. The workouts, weight room, all that goes into play as well. Coaches, how the coaches are. A lot of coaches say what you see is what you get. You want to make sure you fit.”
Michigan State is the most familiar program at this point in the process.
“I’ve been up there three times,” Lyke said. “It’s just nice up there, great atmosphere. They get rowdy during the games. I expect Notre Dame does as well. I haven’t had a chance to get up there for a game but you see it on TV. It’s rowdy.”
