Hall of Fame
Brent Lesniak was a standout performer for Grand Valley State on the gridiron and played on two of the greatest teams in NCAA DII football history. Lesniak was a key figure in the Lakers’ run to the 2001 and 2002 NCAA DII National Championship games where GVSU finished runner-up (13-1) in 2001 and claimed the Lakers’ first-ever National Championship en route to a perfect 14-0 season in 2002. He earned Don Hansen Football Gazette Freshman All-American honors in 1999, rushing for 908 yards and six touchdowns, returning 15 kickoffs for 397 yards and recording 1,365 all-purpose yards. During his final two collegiate campaigns he rushed for 1,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, caught 38 passes for 519 yards and six TDs, while returning 21 kickoffs for 234 yards and one TD. Brent ranks second all-time with 15 100-yard rushing games and recorded a GVSU career-record 12 touchdowns that covered 50 yards or more. Lesniak ranks fourth all-time in kickoff return yards (1,212), fifth in all-time, all-purpose yards (4,747) and sixth in career rushing yards (2,947). Brent was a two-time all-league performer and helped Grand Valley State to a combined 34-5 record his final three seasons.
