Spotlight: Lincoln-Way Central's All-State Playmaker, Lucas Andresen

jennycz27
28 minutes ago
3 min read

By: Jenny

Every Football Player Has A Story To Tell

Lincoln-Way Central senior Lucas Andresen just wrapped up a monster season, the kind that pushes a player from local standout to legitimate college prospect. At 6’3 and 210 pounds, with verified numbers that include a 4.52 forty, 36 inch vertical, and 465 pound deadlift, Andresen checks the boxes physically. The tape and production fill in the rest.

He finished his senior year with 1,168 all purpose yards and 19 touchdowns in only 10 games, earning him a spot on the Class 7A Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State team, as well as All-Conference. That recognition capped off a season he calls the final chapter of his legacy in the Red, Black and White, a last chance to compete with his closest friends and show what Lincoln-Way Central football is supposed to look like.

Andresen’s game is built on versatility. He lines up in the slot, out wide, or in the backfield, and he attacks defenses in different ways. He prides himself on running clean, crisp routes and finding space, but he also embraces the physical side he gained from playing running back. Learning to run behind his pads changed his approach. Combine that with improved route running and a sharper feel for defensive gaps and you get the complete offensive threat he became this season.

Nothing about his production happened by accident. He credits his quarterback for trusting him, his offensive line for opening lanes, and his coaches for building weekly game plans around exploiting matchups. The mission was simple... Put him wherever the opposing defense struggled and let him go to work. He did not fumble once all year, something he considers a point of pride. Lost possessions lose games, and he refuses to let that be him.

His favorite moment came with 14 seconds left before halftime against Andrew. Down 14-7 and backed up on their own 15, he took a counter handoff and broke free for an 85-yard score that tied the game. It was the perfect snapshot of his style: patience, vision, burst, and a refusal to get caught.

As he prepares for college, Andresen plans to train daily in the weight room and on the field while maintaining and adding to his frame. Strength, blocking technique, and continued polish as a route runner top his list. With offers from Dayton, Valparaiso, and Butler, and interest from programs like Ball State, he says coaches like his ability to line up in multiple spots, block with power, and still stretch the field. He wants a school where academics are respected and where he can earn his place in a strong football culture.

Ask him what a college program would get in him and he keeps it simple. He is a coachable, hardworking student athlete who shows up every day ready to add value.

His journey has been shaped by a longtime mentor, Coach Dave Woodburn, who has been in his life since he was five. Woodburn is the reason he put on pads in the first place. Central’s culture molded him too. Physical football, earned respect, and a family built over years. That identity shaped him into a leader.

When asked about teammates, he doesn’t hesitate. He is proud of quarterback Drew Woodburn, a longtime friend whose pocket presence and confidence grew throughout the season. It is easy to see the trust between the two on the field.

Lucas Andresen leaves Lincoln-Way Central as a complete offensive weapon, a proven leader, and now an All State selection. His next step is coming, and whichever college program lands him is getting a player built on versatility, toughness, intelligence, and the kind of work ethic that stands out to college coaches.

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