Lincoln Lutheran finished just 3-7 last fall while sneaking into the Class C-2 playoffs. The Warriors were a young team — the leading passer, rusher and receiver were all juniors — but they enjoyed a strong season from their anchor on both the defensive and offensive line in junior Jack L’Heureux.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound L’Heureux, who started both ways at defensive end and tackle, has began to see his recruitment heat up following a junior season where he recorded 53 tackles with five for a loss.

L’Heureux doesn’t have a scholarship offer yet, but has quite a few schools contacting him. Augustana University, Nebraska Wesleyan, Wayne State College and Sioux Falls University are the schools he’s been hearing from the most. You can throw Nebraska and Kenny Wilhite in that group as well.

There’s no doubt about it — L’Heureux wants to play football at the next level, and he’s serious about improving this offseason. It’s a game he loves playing because of the teamwork needed to achieve success.

“A big part of it is the people I play with. I play for my team, not just for myself,” L’Heureux said of why he loves football. “It’d be a dream come true if I could make it to the next level.”

L’Heureux was born in Iowa and has moved around quite a bit. His family settled in Lincoln and he’s been at Lutheran since he was in sixth grade. He’s always played football, and has sort of modeled his game after current Cincinnati Bengal Trey Hendrickson, who burst onto the scene last season with New Orleans and was tied for second in the NFL in sacks with 13.5.

“He’s been an inspiration to me since he’s been in the NFL,” L’Heureux said.

L’Heureux isn’t competing in a spring sport, so he’s been living in the weight room nearly every day. His work has been paying off recently, too, as he’s surpassed his max in squat twice. First, he beat his best of 365 pounds by doing 380. Soon after that, he squatted 405.

L’Heureux knows the offseason work on his body is crucial to his development as a football player. Having a strong base is important for what he wants to excel at — holding his ground against opposing offensive linemen on one play and getting in the backfield the next. It’s going to be a big spring and summer for the Lutheran athlete.

“Right now it’s just football. The next two months I’m going to Omaha to work with Warren Academy on agility stuff and weight lifting,” L’Heureux said.

L’Heureux wants to improve on the fine details of line play. Become more of a technician with his hands. He’s had a good teacher to learn from, too, as former Nebraska and NFL offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles has been helping train him.

“I’ve been working with him one-on-one, just where to be at in certain positions,” L’Heureux said. “I’ve learned a lot of new things and helpful things working with him.”