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| Garret Wilson, left, and Demir Ashiru split snaps at quarterback for the defending national champions. North Central athletics photos by Steve Woltmann |
By Greg Thomas
D3football.com
When the top-ranked North Central Cardinals took the field in their season opener against UW–Oshkosh, something was unfamiliar. For the first time in four years, the Cardinals lined up without Luke Lehnen at quarterback. No. 5 wasn’t behind center, no steady hand running the offense, no inevitable touchdown pass waiting on the next series.
After 59 consecutive starts, two national championships, two Gagliardi Trophies, and a Division III career record book rewritten in his wake, Lehnen was gone.
The Cardinals didn’t just lose a quarterback. They lost a defining presence. And that left one of the biggest questions in Division III football hanging over Naperville- what happens when the guy who has to follow a legend takes the field?
Had I not been around to witness it, I would think Lehnen’s résumé was made up. He finished 57–2 as a starter, throwing 162 touchdown passes (more than any quarterback in Division III history) while accounting for 213 total touchdowns. He threw at least one touchdown in every single game he played, an all-divisions record, and his career passer efficiency rating of 211.9 stands as the highest ever recorded at any level of college football.
But his legacy wasn’t just in the numbers. “I think the bigger piece that you miss is the continuity, the leadership and the confidence that he brings,” Cardinals head coach Brad Spencer said. “The skill and the talent is one thing, and you can try and go out and find versions of those. But those intangibles, to me, that’s the bigger miss. That takes time, that involves relationships, communication, shared experience between players. That doesn’t happen over the course of a three-week camp. That takes time into the season to produce and to develop.”
For Spencer and his staff, the job this summer wasn’t simply finding a starter. It was finding someone who could lead North Central without being overwhelmed by the legacy of one of Division III’s all-time greats.
The competition started with three very different candidates.
The most familiar face belonged to senior Calvin Lavery, who had backed up Lehnen for the past three seasons. Lavery knew the playbook, the program, and the culture inside out.
Next came Demir Ashiru, a transfer from Division II powerhouse Ferris State. Athletic and dynamic, Ashiru brought a new skill set that hinted at creative possibilities for Spencer’s offense.
And then there was Garret Wilson, who committed in the spring, transferring to North Central from Oklahoma State. Wilson had size, arm strength, and experience in a Division I program, but was the newest to North Central’s culture and system.
By the close of camp, Wilson and Ashiru had separated themselves. Wilson’s early impression was hard to ignore.
“I do remember the first day that Garret was our No. 1 in seven-on-seven,” Spencer said. “His very first pass, he threw a touchdown. And then his first rep in 11-on-11, he threw a touchdown again. I think at that point we kind of all went, okay, I think we’re going to be all right.”
Ashiru’s growth also demanded a role. “The last two weeks, Demir has just really done a nice job in practice. He’s really developed and he’s getting better. So that’s where we came up with some package things for him for Saturday.”
Wilson earned the starting nod, but this wasn’t a winner-take-all decision. Ashiru was set to play in high-leverage situations right away, and he did in the opener. Spencer emphasized that both Wilson and Ashiru would have roles on the field, and that the contributions of everyone in the quarterback room remain crucial to North Central’s success. “I think in today’s day and age of football, if you have players that can do things that help you win football games, then you should find a way to get them onto the field,” he said.
The new era opened with some nerves. With eight new starters on offense, including the quarterback, North Central’s first two possessions against Oshkosh ended in three-and-outs. But once Wilson settled in, the Cardinals looked like, well, the Cardinals. They scored on seven of their next eight drives in a runaway 45–14 win.
Wilson’s numbers were impressive: 16 of 22 passing for 261 yards and three touchdowns, plus 72 rushing yards including a 59-yard scoring burst. Ashiru completed both of his passes and added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter that gave North Central the lead for good.
Just as important, both quarterbacks looked comfortable. Defenses can’t simplify their scouting reports. Ashiru isn’t only a runner, Wilson isn’t only a passer. Each forces opponents to respect the full scope of the playbook. As if opposing coaches haven’t had enough to prepare for when North Central week comes around, now they have to account for multidimensional, multi-personnel looks.
For all the speculation about competition and depth charts, the quarterbacks themselves insist their strength lies in how they work together.
“It’s not necessarily going out there and playing like Luke, but it’s holding the standard that we have for our quarterback room,” Lavery said. “We’re going to go out there and compete at the highest level every game, no matter who we’re playing against.”
Wilson leaned on that dynamic immediately. “Being able to have that instant feedback as you’re coming off the field is huge,” he said. “Especially from Calvin. Being here as long as he has, he knows the system really well. He knows what Coach Spencer is thinking and what he wants to do. Any opinion helps tremendously so that you can go out there with even more clarity on your next drive.”
Ashiru said the leadership around him has been as important as the playbook. “More than just the plays, it’s learning the program and understanding what’s expected of you on and off the field. It’s more than just football here. It’s who you are as a person, how do you interact with other people? Having that leader you can look to in Calvin, he knows everything and he understands what’s going on in the situations we’re in.”
The competition may have concluded, but the collaboration continues.
Of course, everything circles back to the same unavoidable question. How do you follow one of the greatest quarterbacks Division III has ever seen?
Wilson didn’t hesitate. “As a quarterback, you’re not trying to be someone else. You’re trying to play your own game, know your strengths and weaknesses and kind of just play to that. Our coaches are going to put us in a situation where we’re comfortable and they know what we can do best.”
Spencer echoed that thought. “Our standards haven’t changed. We have the same goals each week for our offensive units. We want the same result, but it might look different.”
Ashiru added, “In the two- and three-deep, it’s just a talented group and we’re all striving to get better. We know that we’re a good team and that we have a high ceiling, but it’s understanding that we can’t get complacent and continue to improve. We have the pieces to do that.”
If anything, North Central’s quarterback story underscores the health of the program. This is still a national championship contender. The Cardinals have won or played for the Stagg Bowl in five straight seasons, and a quarterback transition hasn’t even remotely closed the window. Instead, it may have opened new possibilities. A multidimensional offense. A quarterback room that reflects the depth and maturity of the roster. An adaptability that makes game-planning against North Central even harder than it was before.
Lehnen’s legacy isn’t a ghost to chase. It’s another layer on an always-growing foundation — from Kam Kniss to Spencer Stanek to Broc Rutter — to build on.
So what happens when you’re the guy who comes after the guy? At North Central, it means carrying forward the standard, not imitating the past. It means a quarterback room that works together in the pursuit of team success. It means, for Wilson, Ashiru, and Lavery, stepping into their own roles while still honoring what was built before.
For them, the shadow of a legend isn’t a burden. It’s the path lit by four years of greatness, and their job now is to keep the Cardinals walking it.
Top 25 Talk
It's still very early, but a couple of teams on my ballot have already forced me to do some shuffling. Hardin-Simmons opened at No. 3 for me in the preseason, but back-to-back one-score wins have nudged the Cowboys down to No. 9 this week, sliding them behind ASC rival Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The WIAC picture has been equally fluid. I started UW–River Falls at No. 5, and I still think the Falcons are one of the nation’s most talented teams with Kaleb Blaha leading the way. However, surrendering 80 points in two games (even to a pair of good offenses) is enough to raise some flags. I’ve dropped River Falls to No. 11, with UW–Platteville moving ahead at No. 10 and UW–La Crosse climbing all the way to No. 4 after showing both balance and bite through two weeks.
Further east, the Empire 8 race has my attention. Brockport has been a steady presence on my ballot, holding at No. 21, but they’re no longer the highest-ranked E8 squad. Utica’s statement wins at Washington & Jefferson and in the Believe Bowl against RPI are hard to ignore. The Pioneers crack my ballot at No. 20 this week and look every bit the part of a contender.
The ballot will keep shifting as September rolls along, but those are a few of the early needle-movers for this voter.
Seven ways to Saturday
Whether you need to recap the week that was or get ready for the week to come, D3football.com is your daily source for fresh Division III football content. We’re bringing the content seven ways to Saturday.
Sunday: New Top 25 Poll
Monday: Around The Nation podcast. Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas recap the weekend that was and preview the weekend to come in Division III football.
Tuesday: Team of the Week Honors
Wednesday: Features columns
Thursday: Around the Nation Column
Friday: Quick Hits featuring our panel’s predictions and insights into the weekend’s games
Saturday: Game Day! The D3football.com Scoreboard has all of your links for stats and broadcasts.
I’d Like to Thank…
Special thanks to North Central’s Calvin Lavery, Demir Ashiru, Garret Wilson, and Brad Spencer for spending time with Around The Nation for this week’s column. Additional thanks to Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletic Communications at North Central College for coordinating this week’s conversations!
Read options?
There’s nothing small about small college football. Division III is home to 241 teams, and many thousands of student-athletes and coaches. There are so many more stories out there than I can find on my own. Please share your stories that make Division III football so special for all of us! Reach out to me at greg.thomas@d3sports.com, on X @wallywabash, or on Bluesky @d3greg.bsky.social to share your stories.
