They call him “Hercules," but the Green Bay Packers are staking their future that this hero's story isn't a tragic one. Like the infamous Greek hero who wrestled snakes in his crib and put lions in headlocks, Lukas Van Ness boasts impressive strength and tenacity.
The 21-year-old from Barrington, IL, cut his teeth on the hockey rink before discovering football in eighth grade. Playing both sides of the ball in high school, Van Ness was a standout guard and defensive end, earning the 2019 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, all while lettering in hockey as well.
Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Van Ness was a diehard Hawkeyes and Bears fan, and while he got to play for his dream college, he will don the uniform of a NFC North rival.