Landon Young with coach Dennis Johnson (Larry Vaught Photo)
Dennis Johnson was the USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year at Harrodsburg High School and an all-southeastern Conference defensive lineman at Kentucky who set a school sacks record. He also played in the National Football League. Johnson believes former UK offensive lineman Drake Jackson and Landon Young can have successful NFL careers.
Johnson was Jackson’s head coach his senior year at Woodford County and coached Young in middle school. He was also an assistant coach at Lafayette where Young played before he got the head job at Woodford.
“The one thing Drake has is he will always will himself to get the job done,” said Johnson. “He won’t quit.”
Johnson remembers Jackson asking why the team ran certain plays and what the defensive line was doing on those plays.
“He never missed a practice the year I was at Woodford,” Johnson said. “In the NFL, he will always know what to do. He will always be on time. Will he be a starter? Maybe not, but he will get a shot and make his mark for the (Detroit) Lions.”
Young was a sixth-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints, who have two talented veteran offensive tackles. Johnson said that is not a bad thing.
“It’s good to have guys you can follow and learn from,” Johnson said. “It is rough to play as a rookie at offensive tackle in the NFL.
“Quarterback, offensive tackle, cornerback … those are the hardest positions to play in the pros. If he can learn, and he will because he will get a ton or reps, from those guys he can have a six, seven, or eight-year career.
“Landon, like Drake, will be great in the community. He can also long snap a little, so that could help him. Landon and Drake are just good teammates and guys that will find ways to help teams in the NFL.”
