October 7, 2014
Hendricks chooses Spartan life
Throughout his time at Folsom High, Lukas Hendricks performed successfully on both the basketball court and gridiron. The 6-foot-5 senior is going to complete his double-duty participation and then narrow it down, joining Mountain West Conference (MWC) member San Jose State University (SJSU) next year on a football scholarship.
So why the choice of the Spartans? Multiple reasons.
“I connected well with the coaching staff, the defense they run is like that of my high school, I love the weather, my grandmother lives nearby and it's just a two and a half hour drive for my family to come to games,” he offered. Hendricks also researched the Spartan roster and found the defensive crew heavy with upperclassmen. “I'm happy and also relieved to be done with the recruiting process.”
Asked what he will bring to the team, he said, “getting some sacks, I'm a pretty good rusher.”
Having played tight end, linebacker and defensive end for Folsom, Hendricks is being viewed as a defensive end by the Spartan brain trust. “I do like basketball but I really like football. There's more opportunity there.”
It's been a generational football thing for some time within the Hendricks family. “My father [Don] played safety at San Diego State and my brother [Marcus] is a senior tight end at Air Force.” The timing is just a bit off for a brother versus brother matchup as Marcus will be graduating while Lukas enrolls as both SJSU and Air Force are in the MWC.
As for a major, “something in biology” is his focus and he's bringing a 3.2 grade point average with him.
Hendricks is a remarkably level-headed regarding his down-the-road future. “I'd like to play in the NFL but I haven't put much thought into it.”
Folsom football is 6-0 this season, currently ranked No. 2 in northern California behind De La Salle. Last year, the squad finished a remarkable 14-1.
Come basketball time and coming off a 32-3 record, the Bulldogs will have Jordan Ford, Colin Russell Jared Wall, newcomer Tre Finch as well as Hendricks available and just might surpass last season's record.