Football IQ, academic success define Fortner
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Cats Illustrated continues with a series on offensive line commit Luke Fortner, an accomplished student who is also defined by his football IQ.
Ask Fortner what he's best known for away from the football field and there's one thing that stands out.
"I like to think I'm pretty smart," the Sylvania Northview lineman told Cats Illustrated. "People always say, 'How do you do football and have a 4.2 (GPA)? That's probably the main thing besides football that I do well."
He's got a sense of humor, too, so Fortner's intelligence isn't doesn't lead to a dry detachment. Witty would accurately describe him. Fortner jokes that his favorite 'subject' might be lunch, and he said his parents probably wish he would put more time into his schoolwork.
"It's always seemed that with school and especially football memorization comes a little easier to me than a lot of other people. When it comes to plays and whatnot I know all five spots on the line," Fortner said.
He enjoys math and science more than English and Fortner said he's thinking about studying something related to medicine, especially if it could also tie into sports somehow, such as something like physical therapy.
Fortner's ability to memorize plays and responsibilities doesn't just give him an understanding of what all five linemen are supposed to do on each play. He can actually play any position on the line.
He's played tackle more than any other position in his high school football history. He started at tackle as a freshman and a sophomore. He's likely to play tackle again this fall for most of the year.
"My high school coach has really helped me out," Fortner said. "Last year my coach said if I play center then it would make me a lot more marketable to all of the colleges that might recruit me. So I played center junior year for more than five games."
Fortner said Kentucky's coaches have not specified a position thus far. But he assumes that with Drake Jackson expected to play center and Landon Young a lock to play tackle, he's probably headed for one of the guard spots. And with players like Marcelys Jones and Nick Richardson no longer with the program, Fortner knows he could have a better opportunity to play at an early stage.
