Lanning was a multi-sport star at Ankeny High School, earning all-state selections in football,[2] baseball,[3] and wrestling.
[5] In baseball, he was a two-time first-team All-State selection and contributed to the team winning the 2012 state championship.
[15] In an unheralded move during the off-season, head coach Matt Campbell asked Lanning to switch positions from quarterback to middle linebacker.
[17] Despite starting on defense, Lanning continued to play special teams as well as wildcat quarterback in short yardage and goal line situations.
[23] In the match-up against Oklahoma State, Lanning had five tackles, half a sack, in addition to throwing a touchdown to Allen Lazard.
[26] Lanning was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2018 NFL draft on April 30.
[32] In 2019, Lanning was hired as a defensive quality control assistant for the football team at Iowa State University.