CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) – The recruiting pitch could’ve written itself for North Central College when recruiting Glenwood’s Gavin Simmons.

The Cardinals are fresh their third Division Three national title in five years. Who led them to the top? Glenwood alum Luke Lehnen.

Lehnen threw for more than 12 thousand yards in college and totaled 213 career touchdowns.

Now, recent Glenwood graduate Gavin Simmons plans to play wide receiver in Naperville.

Gibson City’s Grauer excited for next chapter

“I’m really excited for it,” Simmons said of joining North Central football. “Obviously they’re the reigning national champions. Losing Luke [Lehnen] is going to be tough but we have plenty of good quarterbacks coming in and we’re ready to keep it going.”

Lehnen, who signed to play in the UFL in January, plans to mentor the incoming freshmen despite no longer being in the program.

“We’re getting together next week or the week after,” Simmons said after donning the Glenwood High School helmet one final time in Saturday’s Shrine Game. “We’re going to sit down, I’m going to pick his brain a little about the playbook and we’re going to get out on the field and run some routes and do some concepts that North Central runs so he’s going to help me out for sure.”

Simmons also played basketball and baseball for the Titans.