3-Star Bentonville West LB Kendall Young Talks Win Streak with Rogers Preview
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Kendall Young Profile
Height and Weight: 6-5, 215
Position: Linebacker
Classification: 2019
Recruiting Ranking: 3-Star
High School: Bentonville West – Bentonville, Arkansas – 7A West
2018 Wolverines Record: 0-3
2018 Stats (2 games): 69 tackles, 29 solo, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one blocked field goal
2017 Wolverines Record: 9-3
2017 Stats (10 games): 85 tackles, 55 solo, 17 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, and one forced fumble
Commitment: Vanderbilt on Sept. 20
Reported Offers (13): Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, Southeast Missouri, Army, Texas State, Tulane, Rice, Louisiana-Lafayette, Princeton, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas State
Top Schools: Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Missouri
This is the fifth installment of a weekly interview series with Class of 2019 linebacker Kendall Young. In this interview, we cover Bentonville West’s win over Fayetteville with a look ahead to the Springdale showdown.
*Click link for last week’s Springdale game preview with Kendall Young
Interview
Kendall, watch out now, the Wolverines have won two in a row. Congrats.
“Thank you.”
You guys took down Springdale 35-22 giving them their first loss of the season (4-1). How did the game against the Bulldogs go overall?
“It was a good game, another victory. We are taking one step at a time. We are trying to go 1-0 each week. They are a good team, it was a good win. We got nine sacks in that game; our front seven has to show up each game like that. That is what we have to do the rest of the season.”
You were credited with 15 stops and 3.5 sacks against the Bulldogs, how did the game go for you personally and how were you able to showcase your talents?
“I was flying around. We were on the field a lot, I think some 90 snaps on defense. For me, that is play calling really. Our defensive coordinator is putting me in the right spot to make plays and I am executing.”
In the last two games you have done a great job of getting after the quarterback with 5.5 sacks, what are you doing differently to create chaos in the opposition’s backfield?
“Again, play calling. I am blitzing more, and I am getting to the quarterback more. Other teams will see me blitzing and make adjustments. We will have to adjust some as well. Springdale started running screens catching us off guard, we will adjust going forward.”
Last week, you mentioned you sacked their quarterback four times last year. Since you familiarized yourself with him again this year, was there any fun or good sport talking going on between the two of you?
(Laughs) “Yeah. There was. He is one of the nice guys. Grant (Allen) is a nice dude. There was no bad trash talking, we were complementing each other really.”
What is the funniest thing an opposing player has said to you to try to throw you off your game or in attempt to get you to go easy on them?
“Playing 7v7, I lined up at receiver. We were playing Rogers, I was going against one of their defensive backs. He said something like ‘go to the sideline, I know I can’t guard you.’ He was being nice. The other defensive back was talking trash. He was saying I was uncoordinated and couldn’t catch. I had one being nice and one talking trash. We have some beef coming up in this game against Rogers. I cannot wait to play them.”
Nice transition. You get Rogers (1-3-1) next, what kind of game will the Mountaineers give you guys?
“We will approach it like every game. We cannot slip off against them. We have to stay at a high level and play our game.”
This question is for the younger readers, with your verbal commitment to Vanderbilt some things in your life may have slowed down but you are still a busy guy. How do you manage your free time and stay on top of your studies?
“You have to make it a priority, you have to. You have to get in at least two hours of homework after practice. Then you can focus on your wants after that. Priorities first and everything else is secondary.”
Words of wisdom. Kendall, always great talking to you. Good luck on Friday against Rogers.
“Thank you.”
2018 Bentonville West Schedule
Week 1 – at Owasso (56-40 loss)
Week 1 stats – 12 tackles, seven solo (44-31 loss)
Week 2 – vs. Fort Smith Southside
13 tackles, seven solo, and a sack
Week 3 – vs. No. 4 Bryant (17-10 loss)
10 tackles and one sack
Week 4 – bye
Week 5 – at Fayetteville (won 31-28)
15 tackles, two sacks
Week 6 – vs. Springdale (won 35-22)
15 tackles and 3.5 sacks
Week 7 – vs. Rogers
Week 8 – at Har-Ber (Springdale)
Week 9 – at Rogers Heritage
Week 10 – vs. Van Buren
Week 11 – at Bentonville
Photo credit: Bentonville West HS; No. 24 Kendall Young on the sidelines