Recruiting Report: Griffin Lanoue (2017)

With his college athletic career path basically set, Rosemount's Griffin Lanoue could have been on cruise control. Since his sophomore year he has been recruited by numerous Division I schools as a pitcher. Despite the almost guaranteed scholarship in baseball, Lanoue still has the pedal to the metal. Not only did he help the football team to the state tournament, but he is also a do-everything player on the Irish's hockey team. The Irish had another solid year on the gridiron. "We made it to State and lost a close one there, but overall it was a lot of fun and a great season," Lanoue said. The senior started every game defensively for two years, and in obvious passing situations, he would play wide receiver. He was the only guy with experience in the 2016 Irish secondary. "I was asked to lead the defensive backs. We had a lot of new guys step into that role this year. I was helping out coaching them and getting them ready to play and making sure once the lights came on everyone knew what they were doing back there. " Lanoue played a deep safety for two seasons. "I usually sat up top at about ten to twelve yards off and read the play and reacted to what I saw. I see the field pretty well and make good reads. I am able to make sure the rest of the guys and I are working as a unit." In the winter Lanoue is on the hockey team. "We are about .500 right now," Lanoue said. "I played defense my whole life, but last year I was a first line forward. This year I didn't know where I was going to play. I started on D and then the last four games I moved to forward." The senior feels he is a physical player and - like in football - he sees the ice well making him a good passer. Where Lanoue really excels is on the mound. A right-handed pitcher, Lanoue was hitting 87 on the radar gun as a sophomore year – catching the attention of college programs and as a junior has been clocked as high as 91 miles per hour. "As a sophomore, I started at shortstop and late in the season I became a reliever and closer," the 6'4" 195 pound senior said. "Then junior year I ended up starting on Monday's, DHing on Wednesdays and starting at shortstop on Thursdays." As a sophomore, he was selected to participate in a national tournament run by Prep Baseball Report. There were over one-hundred college coaches at the event. He received his first offers based on his performance. A minor shoulder injury slowed recruiting down a bit as a junior, but it picked back up last summer. "I went on a visit to West Virginia, Xavier, Ole Miss, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Memphis,” <a href="http://www.northstarfootballnews.com/2017-rankings">NFN’s 107th ranked senior</a> said. “Those were the biggest schools." On the football side of things, Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth, and Augustana are still looking at him, but the schools all know Lanoue's future is likely in baseball. Despite his opportunities in baseball, Lanoue had little doubt he was going to continue to play three sports. "High school only happens once. Football and hockey – this is probably the last time I will play them. I didn't want to miss out on them," Lanoue said. "I have loved football my whole life, and I have liked hockey since I was a little kid too, so I didn't want to miss out on that. I knew injuries were a possibility, but I don't know what I would do with my time. I always have something to do." Lanoue will have something to do after high school. He remains a three-sport athlete, although football is a possibility, baseball is his likely path – even as he continues to keep the pedal to the metal.

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Recruiting Report: Griffin Lanoue (2017)

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