UA: Lodge carries on tradition
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There is no doubt the future is bright for DaMarkus Lodge.
The Rivals100 wide receiver has received scholarship offers from across the country, and he has established himself as one of the most highly coveted high school wide receivers in the country.
In his first year as a starter in 2013, he posted 72 receptions for 1,255 yards and 22 touchdowns as he helped guide the way for the Cedar Hill Longhorns 5A Division II Texas state championship.
Heads were turned, and he has only continued to add to his list of accomplishments and enhance his reputation as a playmaking offensive threat.
Wednesday was a special day for Lodge as he was presented as an Under Armour All-American at Cedar Hill High School in front of his family, coaches, and teammates.
"It feels great," Lodge said. "I don't feel accomplished, but I feel like I've done what I've set out to do thus far. It's everything in the world to me. I'm representing my parents, my school, my coaches, and the people who support me. So it means the world to me to know that you guys think I'm amongst the best players in the country. It means a lot."
The journey to becoming a UA All-American was not easy by any means, but the path has been clear. Lodge vividly remembers the moment when the dream of becoming an Under Armour All-American began to form.
"Well the first time I found out about the Under Armour game was in 2013," Lodge said. "One of my teammates, Laquvionte Gonzalez, the day he got his jersey presented to him I was walking down the hall at 10 o'clock in the morning, and coach McGuire pulled me to the side and told me in my ear, 'Be ready for this day in two years because this is going to be you.'
"I didn't know what he was talking about, and I was so anxious to see what was about to happen. I entered the gym and all the Under Armour guys were there and the jerseys were sitting out and the helmets and it was an exciting moment for me. Even though it was not my jersey presentation it was exciting. It's like every kid's dream."
Along the way he has looked up to a few wide receivers and he has tried to model his game and work ethic after theirs.
"Well first off my sophomore year, I played behind Quincy Adeboyejo," Lodge said. "That was his senior year and he did something amazing. He broke the all-time receiving record at Cedar Hill and he broke the all-time receiving touchdown record at Cedar Hill. Playing behind him was really a blessing for me because I learned so much. He was one of my role models coming up and he still is. I watch him to this day when he comes home and I still work out with him to this day.
"Another guy I would say is I try to be like A.J. Green. I love his playing style."
Now 'every kid's dream' is Lodge's reality.
He joins Aaron Benson, Thomas Ashcraft, Jarvis Humphrey, and Laquvionte Gonzalez in a long line of Cedar Hill Longhorns to play in the game. As he put it, he really had no choice.
"It was kind of like I had to," Lodge said. "After seeing Quiv receive his jersey and coach McGuire telling me that was going to be me one day. I had no choice but to be an Under Armour All-American."
Lodge faces a few tough choices, though. He committed to Texas A&M in June, but has since re-opened his recruiting process. He took his first official visit to USC and followed it up with an unofficial visit to Ole Miss. Now he is preparing for his second official visit with a trip to LSU on the schedule for this weekend.
"I know their season is not going as they really wanted right now, but I'm just looking for a coaching staff who will develop their players into NFL players," Lodge said. "I've seen what they've produced the last couple of years and it's been great. I want to see a family bond from those guys and how they're like on and off the field and what they're like when the coaches are not around."
Following his trip to LSU, he is not sure where he will go next. However, he does have a few ideas.
"After LSU I want to either get to Arizona State, Ohio State, or I want to get out to Florida," Lodge said.
Oklahoma, Baylor, and TCU are a few other programs who have also been associated with Lodge in recent weeks, but he is not ready to narrow his focus just yet. He does have an idea about when he would like to close in on a few final programs though.
"I know it's going to be after the season when I narrow it down," Lodge said. "I'll probably have a top five sometime at the end of January."
Wherever he decides, it is undeniable the future is bright. For now, he is focused on the 2014 season, and this week that means a big-time match-up with the longtime rival DeSoto Eagles.
As for the Under Armour All-American game, he is most excited about one opportunity.
"Just the competition," Lodge said. "I know these are going to be the best guys across the country. There's nothing like competing against the best. It makes you better day in and day out, so I'm really looking forward to the competition."
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