Brandon’s Matt Lentz may have a home in the National Football League by the end of this month.
Lentz, who completed his career with the University of Michigan football team this past season, is a candidate to be selected by an NFL team during the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 29-30 in New York City.
The entire draft will be televised on the ESPN cable network, with rounds 1-3 slated for Saturday, April 29 and rounds 4-7 scheduled for Saturday, April 30.
Lentz had a noteworthy career as a right guard on the Wolverines? offensive line. He started for Michigan for three years after being redshirted his freshman year and playing part-time his sophomore year.
He was a All-Big Ten selection the past two years. Last year, he was a first-team selection by the Big Ten media and second-team selection by the Big Ten coaches, while in 2004, he was a first-team selection by the coaches and a second-team selection by the media.
Lentz, 23, has been busy since Michigan’s season concluded in December against Nebraska at the Alamo Bowl.
‘Right after I got back from Texas, I headed straight out to Pittsburgh to train,? he said. ‘I rehabbed my knees out there for two weeks, and then I headed out to the Hula Bowl.?
The Hula Bowl, which took place Jan. 21, 2006, is one of several postseason college all-star bowl games, and Lentz was a member of the East team. He said he received about half of the playing time among the East’s offensive linemen, since there were two lines on the East team.
‘That was a pretty fun game,? he said.
Lentz was listed as the starting East center on the Hula Bowl game report (hulabowlhawaii.com), and the East defeated the West 10-7.
About a couple months later, Lentz was one of about eight or nine Michigan players that worked out from representatives from each NFL team for Michigan’s Pro Day, which took place Friday, March 17.
‘It went pretty well ? I got good feedback from scouts,? Lentz said.
While Lentz awaits word on his NFL future, two people who have seen Lentz firsthand as part of the Michigan football radio broadcasting team testify to Lentz’s toughness and determination at Michigan.
Frank Beckmann, the longtime play-by-play radio voice of Michigan football on WJR-AM (760), said Lentz played hard all the time, even when he was injured, and epitomized what an offensive lineman is all about.
‘The biggest thing I think of when I think of Matt Lentz is toughness,? Beckmann said. ‘To watch him play hard when he was hurting, I think that’s the best thing you can say as an offensive lineman is that he’s tough.?
Former U-M offensive lineman Jim Brandstatter, Beckmann’s partner on the Michigan radio broadcasts, also said Lentz? greatest asset on the field was his toughness.
‘His leg would have to fall off for him to come out of the game,? Brandstatter said. ‘I think Matt was perfect for that role (offensive line) right out of high school. Very quietly, he was a guy you could count on.?
As far as off-the-field responsibilities go, Brandstatter said Lentz was ‘real shy? about dealing with the media when he first arrived at Michigan, but grew into that role as he matured.
‘As a freshman at Michigan, you look up to the upperclassmen,? he said. ‘As you progress and become an upperclassman, you realize you have a responsibility to the youngsters and the team. I think he grew up and took responsibility as a senior and a leader.?
Beckmann said while he doesn’t expect Lentz to be a real high draft pick, he thinks there’s a spot for him in the league.
‘I think he can play,? he said.
Brandstatter said NFL teams, when scouting offensive linemen, ‘feel comfortable that Michigan offensive linemen will come out of the program well schooled fundamentally, and they’ll get their best effort on every snap.?
‘I think Matt fits that bill,? he said.
Sports fans looking for information on Lentz and other NFL Draft prospects do not have to look very far. The magazine racks and the Web are filled with publications and articles about the draft and each of its prospects.
One such publication is The Sporting News Pro Football Draft Guide 2006, a supplemental publication to the weekly sports magazine The Sporting News.
The guide reviews each position and ranks the top prospects at those positions. They list Lentz as the 10th-best prospect among offensive guards, projecting him as a sixth-round draft pick.
Their assessment of Lentz is as follows:
Strengths: Is big and tall and has a great frame. Is tough and mean. Has the strength to win one-on-one battles. Uses his upper-body strength and long arms to control most pass rushers. Gets set quickly in pass protection. Holds his ground against bull rushers.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t move well laterally. Tends to play upright and stiff. Sometimes overextends his upper body and gets off-balance; must improve his positioning and leverage. Lacks ideal bulk. Needs to strengthen his lower body.
Bottom line: Lentz lacks any elite physical tools. He projects as a backup guard and a late Day 2 selection.
In spite of all the pre-draft speculation, Lentz, who is represented by agent Ralph Cindrich of Pittsburgh, said he has done all he can do to prepare for the draft process, and will now wait with Cindrich to see how the situation unfolds.
Lentz said he has spoken to several former Michigan players (including Detroit Lions starting left tackle Jeff Backus) about the process. In addition, he said Michigan has been real good about letting him and other current and former players use their facilities for training.
‘They’re always open for old players ? they’re always helpful,? Lentz said.