Saturday, June 16, 2012
Brad Strauss
Lawrence
Position: Quarterback/Safety
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185 lbs.
Year: Senior
Stat to Note
Last season Strauss was a First Team All-Sunflower League selection as a quarterback and as a defensive back.
Scouting Report
There's no way around it--expectations are sky high for Strauss as he enters his senior campaign with the Chesty Lions. The 2012 season will be his third as the starting quarterback for Lawrence High and if can build on his numbers from the last two seasons he will not only be the top player in the Sunflower League, but he'll also be in contention for the Simone Award. And perhaps more importantly, Lawrence High will be among the league's elite.
In his first year as the starting quarterback in 2010, Strauss, then just a sophomore, helped LHS to a 3-6 record just a season after they finished 1-8. That year he passed for 1,141 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 603 yards and five touchdowns. He came back huge in 2011, passing for 1,554 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 707 yards and 11 touchdowns (not to mention being one of the top defensive backs in the league) in an injury-shortened season. LHS qualified for the playoffs and went 6-4.
Looking ahead to this fall it's hard to downplay the impending "make or break" season Strauss and LHS program will have riding on their shoulders. The Chesty Lions head coach, Dirk Wedd, has described Strauss as a once-in-a-lifetime type of player, and Strauss has lived up to that title the past two years. His senior season, however, will be where his true legacy is engraved. If he can stay healthy and continue to produce the way he has in the past LHS could be in for a very fun season ahead.
Sunflower League Preseason Power Rankings
Head Coach: Dirk Wedd (12 years, 67-60)
Last Season: 6-4, Regionals
You never want to put the expectations of a program on one player,
but in all honesty, Lawrence is going to go as far in 2012 as their star
quarterback Brad Strauss (6-1, 185) can take them. Let's start
with the talented signal-caller. In his two seasons as the starting quarterback
at LHS he's combined to pass for 2,695 yards and 21 touchdowns and rush for
1,310 yards and 16 touchdowns. He took the reins at quarterback following
Lawrence's tumultuous 1-8 season in 2009 and responded by helping the team to a
3-6 record in 2010.
The Chesty Lions return one of the league's best receiving duos in
Erick Mayo (5-10, 175) and Drake Hofer (6-0, 180), both of whom
are a threat to take any catch the distance. Running back Tyrone Jenkins (6-0,
205) came on strong late in 2011 and even quarterbacked LHS to victory in the
regular season finale against Free State. This year he'll have a good workload
out of the backfield and he should be a tremendous compliment to Strauss'
running ability.
Heading up the trenches will be senior Kharon Brown (5-10,
225), a first team all-league selection last season as a defensive lineman.
He's not massive but he plays with great leverage and he has a tremendous motor
for getting to quarterbacks and ballcarriers.
Fast Fact: Lawrence's 31 undefeated seasons are the most of any high school football program in the country.
