Interview: 3-Star 2019 Arkansas LB Kendall Young Talks Playoffs and Mizzou Official Visit
Posted 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: 6-4
2018 Stats (9 games): 95 tackles, 39 solo, 11 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and one blocked field goal – not complete stats
2017 Wolverines Record: 9-3
2017 Stats (10 games): 93 tackles, 58 solo, 17 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, and one forced fumble
Commitment: Vanderbilt on Sept. 20, 2018
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 part of a season-long interview series with Class of 2019 linebacker Kendall Young. In this interview, we cover Bentonville West’s game against crosstown rival Bentonville with a look ahead to the playoff. We also talk about Young’s official visit this weekend to Missouri playing against Vanderbilt.
*Click link for previous game preview with Kendall Young
Interview
Kendall, it is never fun talking after a frustrating loss, so I appreciate you doing the interview. For those of us not there, what happened in the loss (31-7) to crosstown rival Bentonville on Friday?
“The atmosphere was great. I felt good, I felt great coming into the game. The entire team felt great. They game in on a mission to do what they need to do. They smacked us in the mouth. Our defense did well, we just couldn’t get it going on offense. Credit to their defense, they held it down and did what they needed to do.
“I feel that I played my butt, it just did not go the way we wanted it to go. It was like a real high school football game with the fans out there.”
How did the game go for you?
“I think they had me with 18 tackles. I sprained my ankle and MCL in the first quarter, but I wanted to play in the game no matter what. I feel I did well.”
The Wolverines get a bye this week. What has been the game plan in practice for you guys awaiting the winner of the No. 3 Conway (8-2) vs. Rogers (2-7-1) game?
“We are focused on Conway thinking they will win. Have been studying film on them. We have been doing what we usually do in a game week. It has been like a game week preparing for Conway. We will do the same thing next week.”
Do you have a preference on which team you’d like to face in the second round?
“I’d rather face Rogers, we already beat them this season (41-14). But, I am pretty sure we will face Conway. We lost to Conway last year in the playoffs. We are out for revenge this year.”
Outside of bringing home a state championship, what are your goals for the playoffs?
“I want to play my hardest and do whatever it takes to win. I am playing for the team right now, there is nothing I am shooting for with me personally… But, I would love to get 100 tackles in a season, I am close. I think I have 95 tackles.”
The Commodores travel to Missouri on Saturday, what kind of game are you expecting in that one?
“I am taking my official visit to Mizzou this weekend. We will see, they play close with everyone, Mizzou does the same thing. Mizzou might have the slight edge but we will have to see. I have faith in both teams, I know guys I both teams. We’ll see what happens.”
When you visit Columbia this weekend, what all do you plan to do?
“I’ve been to Mizzou three times now, this will be my fourth visit. I want my parents to see it and I want to see the atmosphere and their schemes, all of that.”
Kendall, thanks for your time today and I hope the visit goes well for you.
“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 (won 41-14)
DNP
Week 8 – at Har-Ber (Springdale – won 45-0)
1 tackle
Week 9 – at Rogers Heritage (won 42-0)
3 tackles, one tackle for a loss
Week 10 – vs. Van Buren (won 46-10)
8 tackles, 3 solo
Week 11 – at Bentonville (lost 31-7)
Week 12- Bye
Week 13 – Second Round of the Playoffs
Photo credit: Young family; Kendall Young at Missouri (May 2018)