Aug. 12--One year ago, Kenney Lyke had no offers and minimal major-collegiate interest.
Today, the Fremd defensive back prepares to enter his senior season committed to an eight-time Big Ten champion, a Michigan State program that finished last season ranked No. 5 in the country.
Is it even possible to compare his August 2014 mindset to his current one?
"Honestly? No, not really," Lyke said after a pause. "My mindset last year, I was going out there just trying to do what I could do. It's so different.
"This year, I come into the season with high expectations and all of these things. People talking about me and stuff like that. It's about going out there, keeping a cool mind and just playing."
Responsibilities of the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder's defensive position -- "I'm kind of in the middle, like a safety, linebacker-type hybrid" -- includes reading the offense pre-snap, making checks and calling out defensive plays at the line. It's a new task, one linebackers have done every year Lyke has played at Fremd.
"I need to make sure I'm doing everything the right way, make sure I have everything together," Lyke said. "Otherwise, you can be the cause of big plays happening. And I don't want that."
Head coach Lou Sponsel won't limit Lyke's responsibilities to defense. He and his staff plan on using the senior all over the field at all times -- "he's playing everywhere but lineman" on offense, Sponsel said -- in a way that will also diversify Lyke's skill set.
"We have to make sure he touches the ball on offense, we have to make sure he can make plays on defense," Sponsel said. "We have to make sure that Kenney Lyke can be felt anywhere on the field at any time."
This spring, Lyke overheard Naperville Central's Emmanuel Rugamba and Nazareth's Julian Love discussing the Core 6 United 7-on-7 team, which was preparing to compete in the PYLON National 7-on-7 tournament. Rugamba and Love were members; Lyke was not. The snub grabbed his attention, and after a tryout, Lyke was named to the team.
Lyke attributes his quick rise to national prominence to a sterling performance in the PYLON 7-on-7 in late February. He was one of the top performers in the Las Vegas-based camp -- named an honorable mention all-tournament safety by 247sports.com -- leading the tournament in interceptions and "just tackling kids, to be honest."
The increased competition against players from talent-rich southern states brought out the best in Lyke. Because of those performances, his comfort level entering his senior season is unmatched.
"I want to play solid and do my job, don't go out there and try to be a superhero," Lyke said. "Some kids go out there and see stuff in college games, see guys out there making plays and they try to go out (in high school) and do the same thing. I'm like, 'No, those guys are doing their job, doing what they're told to do. They're just making the plays when they have their opportunity.' That's what I have to do."
Lyke would love to make even more plays behind the line of scrimmage and top 100 tackles this season. He cites footwork and ball skills as two primary areas to improve, especially as a defensive back of his size.
"I think he has another gear that he doesn't even know about," Sponsel said. "Dan Davis, our defensive coordinator, has a great relationship with Kenney. We talked about, 'Sure, you're going to Michigan State. But if you want to be college-ready, that extra gear? You have to find that now.' "
Kenney Lyke
School: Fremd.
Class: Senior.
Height/weight: 6-2, 185.
Position: S/DB.
College: Michigan State.
