STAR of the Week: Makin Lenard, Ouachita Christian Eagles

MONROE, La. ( KTVE/KARD ) — Makin Lenard is a name you often hear on Friday nights for his talents on the football field.

But it’s also a name you may often hear anytime Ouachita Christian High School is brought up because–let’s face it–he represents what it means to be an Eagle both athletically and academically.

That is why we honor Makin as our latest STAR of the Week brought to you by Coney Island Connections and Chris Lewis.

“It’s a big thing,” said Lenard. “It used to be my number two sport behind track and then over the summer, picking up offers and just building a relationships with coaches, I can just see there’s a lot more love and football and track and the football world is like no other.

Football has been a major piece of Makin Lenard’s life.

A young man looking to live out his childhood dreams.

But football isn’t what dictates his success.

That is why education is just as important to him as the game of football.

“Ball only gets you so far, so being productive in the classroom is pretty beneficial in life so I’ll make sure to take care of my work,” Lenard said.

Lenard knows without the grades, there is no football.

That may play a role in his success in the classroom, but more importantly, he wants to be the example for the younger Eagles who want to be like him–one of those youngsters who looks up to him the most.

“Dad always tells me you know just be leader on and off the field and that also goes for family too, you know,” Lenard said. “I make sure that my sister watches and pays attention to some other things I do to help her.”

“He takes that responsibility of leadership seriously that he’s going to be intentional about being a good example and reach out to to others and care about others and so he is intentional about being a good role model and leader for those around him and then he’s a great one for these young kids here at school to look up to it and emulate,” Fitzhugh said.

Through four games this season, Lenard has already rushed for nearly 500 yards, 200 of those coming from their Week Four win over Madison.

But that kind of success doesn’t just happen.

Makin has spent hours training and watching film to get to this point–all while finding the time to get in the books.

For Lenard–making it happen was pretty simple.

It’s not easy–but is something he needs to be prepared for down the road.

“Just good time management,” said Lenard. “There’s not a lot of time at all, but I want to play ball at the next level and I heard it’s twice as hard there so I have get used to it now figure it out now before I get there. You can’t play on Saturday if you haven’t done your stuff throughout the week.”

“He’s just dependable, you can count on him. He’ll he’ll make things work. He’s not going to make excuses about anything. He’s gonna find a way to make things work and same thing again that carries over in an academics,” Fitzhugh said. “Doesn’t matter of the workload or how late practice was or whatever might be. He’s gonna take care of his business and do the right things and excel academically, athletically. Again, he’s always going to get his work in. You can just count on him.”

Makin is the prime example that yes–you can be good in multiple sports–and in school at the same time.

I guess that’s why they call him Mr. Make It Look Easy.

“It just shows people, the younger kids at OCS, that you can do both and that just because you’re at three-star athlete, you’re not dumb in the classroom and you’re able to maintain both of those if you try,” said Lenard.

While Makin is still undecided as to where he will be attending college, the foundation is there–and you guessed it–football will indeed be in that plan.

But the plans go even further than that.

“My four years are undergrad and something business and then I wanna go on to law school after that,” Lenard said. “My dad, he’s a big business guy and he just always talks about lawyers and it’s something I just kind of fell in love with, just law school. It’s a successful profession so I don’t know. It seems pretty interesting to dive into.”

Makin Lenard is the real deal–talented athlete, scholar student and just a great human being.

Leave no doubt–this young man’s success is just getting started.

“Regardless of whether school sports may he just said that he just count on him so great kid real proud of him and I think he’s an excellent choice for star athlete because he’s a total package,” said Fitzhugh.