Landon Young (SEC Photo)
Kentucky had seven players invited to the virtual NFL Combine this year — the most in school history. One of those who might have been a bit of a surprise to some was offensive tackle Landon Young.
“For years I have questioned some of the invites to the NFL Combine,” said former UK all-SEC running back AnthonyWhite. “You invite the top 20 picks (in the draft) and all they do is interview and do not do any of the individual tests. To me, Landon is the type of guy that should be invited. He’s a guy teams want to know more about and this gives them a chance.”
Young was an all-SEC performer but is not as highly rated in mock drafts as a lot of other tackles.
White offers an insight into why despite Young’s success at Kentucky.
“Landon is a solid guy. You know what you are going to get out of him,” White said. “The question is how will he convert to the next level.
“The last three years we have had offensive linemen go to the next level. What they all were asked to do just like Landon at UK was block in the read-option. They don’t do that in the NFL.
“So for Landon, it becomes more how his skills translate to the next level more than how good you were in college. That’s why a normal combine this year would have been huge for him.”
One player who didn’t get an invite even to the virtual combine was linebacker Boogie Watson.
“I think Boogie Watson is going to be an NFL player,” White said. “Sometimes an invite is a lot about the position they play or how old they are.”
He noted that Watson, a senior, had a lot of game film for NFL scouts to watch. Junior linebacker Jamin Watson does not have as much film and got an invite.
“Teams know already what they are getting out of Boogie,” White said.
