[LeeCoUKFan]

Sophomore UK commit Young has plenty to learn

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Not much has been written about Lafayette offensive tackle Landon Young since he committed to Kentucky this summer but he went on the record at length with Cats Illustrated recently.

Perhaps the lack of a spotlight comes from the fact that Young is a 2016 recruit, only a sophomore. Most fans and pundits are still wondering how the 2014 class will shake out and what the early forecast is for current juniors. But sophomores?


[Image: http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/888/1459944.jpg]
Landon Young says he'll keep his options open in the coming years, but is solid with UK.


Mark Stoops and the staff didn't expect to push for an early commitment from Young. It just seemed to happen that way.

The previous coaching staff headed by Joker Phillips was familiar with Young but hadn't offered yet. Stoops and company had a chance to evaluate him for an entire week at an extended camp at UK early this summer. That was all they needed to see.

"With the new coaches (the camp) is sorta where I got to meet them and know them. I had been familiar with Joker and those guys before," Young said. "I think they were impressed with my size and my effort. I was able to go out there as a 2016 guy that's 6'7 and 250-pounds and that's something they can work with. They put me up against top 25 guys, a defensive end and a defensive tackle, and I played with them in one-on-ones. I was able to stand with them, give it all I've got and hold them back a little bit."

Offensive line coach John Schlarman has already been by Lafayette and should be getting to know Young very well over the next couple of years.

While Young admits he's got a lot to learn about the current staff he did indicate they have impresed him so far. He committed after all.

"I love the coaches and I think (hiring Stoops was) a great move for UK. Stoops brought a whole new life to the team. He's got them pumped up and they're going out there striving to win," he explained.

The coaches may have been instrumental in sealing the deal but Young always knew he would give UK a serious look.

"I've always been a UK fan," he said. "I live five miles away so they were always my hometown school. I've always favored them and knew I would look at that option. They were definitely near the top of my list to go to period as a college."

Young said he's a solid commitment for UK, or at least as solid as a high school sophomore can be. He knows it's likely that other interest and offers will be coming and he plans to take all that in stride without letting it get to his head. He does plan to at least give thought to those other options, because he feels like he owes it to himself. But he doesn't expect to change his mind.

"I'm pretty solid on UK," he said. "I've loved UK ever since I was little. You've always gotta keep options open and make sure it's the right move. I don't want to regret anything. I'm sticking pretty firm with where I'm at but you've got to keep your options open."

Young was in Commonwealth Stadium last month to watch Kentucky and Louisville battle for the Governor's Cup, and while he wasn't happy with the outcome he saw plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of the program.

"I was actually pretty impressed," he said. "With Louisville being as good as they are and with us having such a young team, to be able to stick that close with them was good. We made a lot of stupid mistakes with dropped balls or maybe passes that weren't the best. Just errors here and there, giving them yards and plays. I was impressed other than that."

Lafayette is 1-5 on the season and Young attributes their struggles to the same problems that have plagued UK: Inexperience and mistakes that can be cleaned up.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1556908