High school football preview: Wadsworth's Calix Lemp ready to take flight

Called the "twitchiest" athlete he's ever had by 10th-year Wadsworth football coach Justin Todd, wide receiver/defensive back Calix Lemp is arguably the fastest player in Medina County and definitely one of the most creative. Not only that, the 6-foot, 180-pound Lemp, who has a personal-best electronic time of 10.78 seconds in the 100 meters, is extremely disciplined and craves structure and routine. That's why Lemp will play college football at Air Force, which he chose over Army, UMass, Kent State and Bowling Green after receiving 21 college scholarship offers, upon graduating from Wadsworth, where he has compiled a 4.43 grade-point average. "I wanted to go into the academy lifestyle," Lemp said. "It gives me routine and it's different than everyone else. Going to an academy is a standing-out factor." After making an official visit to the campus in Colorado Springs, Lemp knew where he wanted to study business administration and eventually earn his MBA. Air Force also throws the ball more than run-heavy No. 2 choice Army, where he definitely would have played defense. What sealed the deal was the fact Air Force coaches were willing to allow Lemp to join the program before deciding which side of the ball he would play on in college. After attending the academy for four years, Lemp will serve a five-year military commitment with the Air Force, though that can be deferred should the opportunity arise to play football beyond college. While serving that commitment, which usually entails being stationed at two or three bases, Lemp will earn a salary and have his tuition covered while pursuing his MBA. His goal while in the Air Force is to work in defense contracting or with the space force. "At first I was on the edge and didn't know if it was for me, but it's an investment," he said. "It's nine years now for my entire future." First, though, Lemp has a senior season to play, where his goal is "16-0 and (Division II) state champs" after the Grizzlies went 11-2 last season and shared the Suburban League National Conference title with North Royalton, which upset Wadsworth in the regular season before getting dominated in a playoff rematch. Lemp, who can bench press 315 pounds, squat 465 and deadlift 500, will play a huge role on both sides of the ball. "He's extremely explosive and has top high-end speed," Todd said. "He's so quick and shifty. Beyond that, he has a very physical mentality, so he's an excellent defensive player because he enjoys contact." In earning third-team All-Ohio and first-team All-Gazette and All-SL National honors as a junior, Lemp caught 41 passes for a county-high 722 yards (17.6 average) while scoring 11 touchdowns. "He's a really difficult cover," Todd said. "If you come up on him, you're in danger of having the top taken off." Defensively, Lemp will play primarily safety so he can have an impact on more plays, though the Grizzlies will have the luxury of moving him to cornerback if they want to shut down one receiver. "I like corner, being on my own island, but it's a different perspective when I get to read the entire field (at safety) and go make plays," Lemp said. "I love to hit, and I'll be able to come down the field a lot more this year. The past few years I haven't made many tackles because I've been on an island, but I'm really looking forward to doing some damage in the run game." Though he didn't have an interception as a junior, largely because teams rarely threw his way, Lemp gave up just one reception while playing corner, where he utilizes the speed that helped him finish third in the 60 meters at the D-I indoor state track meet. "There's a reason he's a Division I recruit," Todd said. "He's just that good. I'm not saying there aren't wide receivers that can beat him, but we have wide receivers that are very good and they get open against everybody but him." Lemp, who has studied Colorado two-way Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, chosen by Jacksonville with the second pick in the NFL Draft, won't come out on defense unless he gets shaken up or the game is well in hand. If he needs a quick rest, he'll take a play or maybe a series off on offense. The goal is to help the extremely talented Grizzlies win another league title and ultimately a state championship. "Coach Todd says we need 44 guys, two at each position, to be ready to play at the highest level," Lemp said. "That's what it's going to take to win a state chip." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X.