Lehnortt: Taking Command
November 20, 2003 02:09 PM | General
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November 15, 2003
Adam Lehnortt has made a career out of overachieving and leading by example.
As a senior at Oil City High, he was an unanimous all-Northwest Conference selection after accumulating 87 tackles and 10 sacks at linebacker, as well as catching 20 passes for 372 yards as a tight end his senior year. He was named to the all-state supreme team at outside linebacker and was tagged as a second team all-state tight end.
Lehnortt was pursed by a plethora of top-notch Division I programs, but felt that the sincerity of the WVU coaching staff combined with the camaraderie of the Mountaineer family was too difficult to pass up.
"When I first got down here Coach Nehlen was the big one that sold me," Lehnortt says. "He's just a typical West Virginia guy. He was first class all the way. He more or less cared about me as Adam Lehnortt, not necessarily as a football player. That sold me from the start."
Lehnortt was recruited by West Virginia as a linebacker, but when he arrived in Morgantown prior to his freshman season he weighed just 210 lbs. After spending his first season as a redshirt, Lehnortt gradually worked his way into the defensive rotation in 2001 and became a major contributor in 2002 when he recorded 63 tackles as a back up to senior middle linebacker Ben Collins.
Needless to say, Lehnortt's hard work is paying serious dividends. The 6-3, 235 lb. junior is second on the team in tackles and continues to improve each week. He attributes a great deal of the success he has endured thus far to the many coaches and teammates who have helped him along the way.
"Coach Casteel, Coach Young and Coach Kirelawich have helped me along with anything I have needed," the starting middle linebacker explains. "I have lived with Grant (Wiley) for two years now and he's showed me a lot. Ex-teammate Kevin Freeman also showed me a lot about how to play at this level."
Through eight games, the Oil City, Pa., native has 82 tackles, two sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries. Lehnortt, however, isn't concerned with individual statistics. His only concern is winning football games.
"As far as the numbers game, I'm not really concerned with that," the first-year starter says. "I don't care if I have 37 tackles or one tackle. As long as we get the team win, that's all that's important. I knew I was going to be called upon to continue the play from my sophomore season. I was ready to step in."
As a result of Lehnortt's outstanding play, he has become one of the central leaders of the Mountaineer defense. Being a leader, however, is nothing different for the business management major. Lehnortt has served as a leader among his family and peers throughout the course of his entire life, and welcomes the challenge of leading his teammates both on and off the field.
"I want everyone around me to know, including the nose guard, defensive ends, linebackers, and even secondary, that Adam Lehnortt is going to be in the right place at the right time," he says intently. "I want to be a playmaker. I'm motivated by the intensity and accountability."
Lehnortt's leadership responsibilities aren't limited to the WVU football community. Last April, his father, Larry Lehnortt, died in a motorcycle accident in his hometown of Oil City, leaving Adam with the responsibility of looking after his mother and two sisters. Though Lehnortt knows they are old enough to fend for themselves, he still takes pride in being the man of the household and has turned the task into motivation on the field.
"It's more or less me knowing that I need to take care of my two sisters and my mom," Lehnortt says. "They are obviously going to get on with their own lives and be able to take care of themselves but I almost look at that as my own responsibility which in turn motivates me to play at another level. I know how much seeing me play means to them and that motivates me."
Never have Lehnortt's leadership skills been more important on the football field than now. The Mountaineers are in the midst of their most crucial stretch of the year and have an opportunity to advance to postseason play for the second consecutive season.
"We are looking to get every win through the end of November," he states prior to WVU's 36-18 win over UCF. "I want every team we are playing to know that we are planning on going 5-0."
One thing the opposition is aware of is the presence and play of Lehnortt. The Big East academic all-star will continue to garner attention for his outstanding play on the field, but it's the intangibles that he brings to the table such as leadership and confidence that have the Mountaineers flying high and in the mix for a postseason bowl bid.
As his career rolls on, you can guarantee that Adam Lehnortt will continue to take command and lead his teammates, family, and peers every step of the way.
Brady Smith is a student assistant in the West Virginia University sports communications office.
