Rock Springs TE Isaac Schoenfeld blossoms into best player in Wyoming
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (BVM) 鈥� Just two years ago, Isaac Schoenfeld wasn鈥檛 sure how much he wanted to play football. Now in his senior season at Rock Springs High School, he鈥檚 player in the state of Wyoming.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a humbling feeling,鈥� Schoenfeld said. 鈥淭here were a lot of kids growing up where it was like, 鈥極h, this kid鈥檚 going to be good or this kid鈥檚 going to be good.鈥� I was never one of those kids. And then all of the sudden I was getting all of these accolades.鈥�
Those accolades include being named first team all-state after a junior season in which he recorded 610 receiving yards and hauled in seven touchdown passes for the Tigers. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end is also as the state鈥檚 No. 1 Class of 2022 recruit and he committed to the University of Wyoming earlier this summer. But none of this seemed likely early in his high school career.
Schoenfeld only played a little football for Rock Springs鈥� freshmen and junior varsity teams as a freshman and he started his sophomore season playing defense on the varsity team. But Tigers head coach Mark Lenhardt, then in his first year at the helm, saw the potential that Schoenfeld had yet to tap into.
鈥淗e kind of put all of the hope that you can put into a kid and I鈥檓 very appreciative of him,鈥� Schoenfeld said.
Quarterback was actually the position Schoenfeld initially asked to play for Rock Springs, but that idea was shot down by Lenhardt, who viewed the then-sophomore as a tight end with the size and ability to do big things at the high school level and beyond. And for Lenhardt, the tight end position proved to be a perfect fit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 probably one of the more diverse positions on the field,鈥� Schoenfeld said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to block, you鈥檝e got to run, you鈥檝e got to catch. It鈥檚 exciting for me because you kind of got to do a little bit of everything.鈥�
As Schoenfeld quickly blossomed into the top tight end in the state, the Wyoming Cowboys football program took notice of the in-state star and offered him a full-ride scholarship. Schoenfeld was excited to accept the offer and he鈥檚 equally excited for the chance to play Division I football close to home. But before that time comes next fall, he has a big goal in mind for his final season with the Tigers, who were ranked No. 4 in the Class 4A preseason coaches and media poll.
鈥淲e want to win state,鈥� Schoenfeld said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e put in a ton of hard work this summer. Our main goal is to win the state championship.鈥�
Capturing a state title this fall — which would be the first in 19 years — wouldn鈥檛 seem likely from a program that has had only one winning season over the past decade. But it might be more likely than seeing an unheralded, uncertain sophomore become the best player in the state in less than two years.
鈥淚鈥檝e kind of seen both sides of it,鈥� Schoenfeld said. 鈥淚 know not to get too cocky and stay humble throughout the whole process. It鈥檚 super exciting (to receive the recognition), but I鈥檝e got to go out and prove it every night.鈥�