Interview: 2020 Texas WR Logan Kyle has All the Pieces of College Impact Player
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Texas high school football has long been among the top, if not at the top, among states producing the best talent and teams on the field. If you get it done against top Lone Star State competition, that speaks volumes for said player. The next in a long line of “said players” who could be that impact player matriculating from the Texas high school gridiron to the college ranks is Class of 2020 receiver Logan Kyle.
Kyle had an explosive junior season exploiting 6A competition game after game for Memorial High School. The 6-3, 196-pound, target proved too much for shorter corners and too fast for any defensive back regardless of height. Through 11 games, Kyle hauled in 48 passes for 1,102 yards with 12 scores and even toted the rock four times for another 25 yards with a trip into the end zone. The season was truly a breakout year after securing eight passes for 308 yards with four touchdowns in 2017.
A player putting up those kind of numbers against 6A Texas defenders and with 4.46 speed in the 40-yard dash, college coaches in the know have not missed out on setting up an early connection with the rising star. To date, 11 offers have been placed in front of Kyle coming from Kansas, Columbia, Syracuse, Rutgers, North Texas, Cal-Poly, Yale, Tulsa, Toledo, Southwest Minnesota State, and North Texas. Beyond the physical measurables and on-the-field production, Kyle also excels in the classroom with a 3.99 cumulative GPA and a 1320 scored on the SAT.
In an RNG exclusive interview, I sat down with one of Texas’ top all-around receiving threats to learn more about his game and growing recruiting prospects.
Interview
Logan, before we talk about anything else, I want to know about that 99-yard touchdown reception. Easy enough to breakdown for the readers; you were lined up out to the left scooted down the middle of the field, got it, and took off. Walk me through that play in your words from the moment the play was called in the huddle.
“Honestly, that was not supposed to be the play from the 1-yard line. We were pushed back due to a penalty. The coaches had talked to us since Tuesday of that week, they thought it would be a great first play for us to run to hit them hard to show them we are here for business. It was a deep route, we knew we could hit them. My QB hit me in full-stride. I was not paying attention to the yardage, I was just trying to get as many yards as I could.”
What was that moment like realizing you had just accomplished the improbable, a 99-yard touchdown reception?
“I did not realize it until I got to the sidelines. That is when the coaches told me I had broken the school record for longest reception in a game. I got really hyped after that.”
A big part of your game is your speed. How fast are you?
“My best 40-yard dash is a 4.46.”
Wow. Where did you post the 4.46 time in the 40?
“I have run well at a bunch of camps, my best was at a U-of-H camp, a Houston camp.”
No arguing that time then. Do you also compete in track?
“Yes, sir.”
Which events?
“The 100, 200, triple jump, and 4×1 and 4×2 relays.”
Wow. You are in a lot of events. What is your best time in the 200?
“My best time in the 200 is 22.6 and my best in the 100 is a 10.8.”
That is smoking down the track. Another part of your game that might get overlooked is your running style once you have the ball in your hands. You run like a tight end and/or a running back fighting for extra yards. What is your mindset after securing the pass?
“Find the seam and hit it hard.”
Which areas of your game showed the most improvement in 2018?
“I would probably say my releases off the line, and my speed in general. I have hit it hard in weight room the last two years. It showed this year.”
What do you feel are the overall strengths to your game?
“My speed, my range, my arm length, and my hands. On a 50-50 ball, it is mine every time.”
Which areas of your game are you focusing on this offseason to fine-tune before the 2019 season?
“I am focused on my breaks, routes, and press releases.”
Are you playing 7v7 ball with a travel team?
“Yes, sir. I am playing with KB3.”
How is 7v7 ball helping push your game forward?
“All the guys on the team are talented. Playing 7v7 is great for exposure as well. I like all the guys on the team, it is great fun playing with them. I am enjoying it.”
Are you going to any camps and/or combines this offseason?
“Yes, sir. I am going to the Nike Opening, an Under Armour camp, and the Adidas Three-Stripe camp.”
Going into recruiting. How many offers do you have?
“I have 11 offers.”
Which were the last two programs to offer?
“North Texas offered today, Syracuse, Columbia, Incarnate Word, and Southwest Minnesota State University.”
Which schools are showing interest but have not offered just yet?
“I am receiving interest from a bunch of schools, they have been coming up to school watching us practice; UNC (North Carolina), Rice, Georgia Tech, SMU, Princeton, Arizona, Vanderbilt, and Houston are all showing interest.”
Have you had a chance to take any visits since the 2018 season began?
“Yes, sir. I went on game visits to SMU, two to U-of-H, Rice, (Texas) A&M, Texas, and Baylor.”
How did the SMU visit go?
“It went very well. I am really close to their receivers’ coach, Coach (David) Gru. We are growing the relationship more and more. He is really cool and a really nice coach. He knows a lot about the game of football.”
What about Rice, how did that visit go?
“It went really well. I went up there and talked to Coach (Jerry) Mack (offensive coordinator). He is a cool coach, very knowledgeable – he knows the game. He is a really cool guy along with Coach (Drew) Svoboda (running backs). Both are super nice guys, really cool, and great coaches.”
Do you have any planned visits coming up?
“We are talking to some schools, but nothing set in stone. I have some Junior Day invites, we’ll see what happens.”
As you start taking the recruiting process more seriously coming towards the end of your junior year, what are some of the things that you will take notice of in the recruiting process as you start to narrow your college teams down?
“I will narrow in on what feels like home to me. I want to spend my four years feeling wanted, knowing I can play at that school, and be at a school with great academics.”
A couple of fun questions to wrap up. Corners are known to talk a lot of trash, what was the funniest thing a corner said to you last year trying to throw you off your game?
(Laughs) “Not last year, but during my freshman year. There was a corner talking a ton of smack. I came up to him next play, he was cussing up a storm. I said ‘I pray for you’ and then scored a touchdown on him. On the next series, he apologized. He said, “I am a Christian, I did not mean to say all that.””
The last hour or so on game day, what is your ritual and mindset?
“I try to get by myself on the field to get my mind right and pray right before the game. I pray to play the best of my abilities and then I go out there and get it done.”
Logan, it was great learning more about you and your game on the field today. I appreciate your time.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Kyle family; Logan Kyle at Houston