Big year in the Bluegrass State
It’s not often that the state of Kentucky has one player participating in an All-American Game, let alone three, but that’s the case in 2016 as the trio of linebacker Kash Daniel, and offensive lineman Landon Young and Drake Jackson represent the Bluegrass State in this year’s Army All-American Game.
What makes the accomplishment so much more unique is that all three are not only friends, but future teammates at the University of Kentucky.
“We’ve always known each other but it’s evolved because we were all getting recruited by Kentucky,” Jackson said. “I live close to Landon but just seeing each other a lot more during the season and going to games together, going to camps together, it evolved because we've got a lot of things in common. We just hit it off when we’re hanging out with each other and it’s kind of grown from there.”
While the Bluegrass State has had national level talent in the past, it hasn’t always been easy for the Wildcats to keep the players close to home.
All three players elected to stick with Kentucky, despite overtures from the likes of Alabama, South Carolina and others.
“It’s really exciting because it shows just how far Kentucky football has come,” the 6-foot-7, 300-pound Young said. “The talent that we have in this class coming up and the talent that we’re going to have in the classes after us, it’s crazy. Us being able to stay solid as the 2016 class and coming in and changing the game a little bit, that’s just going to be even better for the classes down the road.”
Young was the first of the trio to commit to the school, making the call following his freshman season. All three players credit him with setting the tone for the Class of 2016, especially considering he’s been the most highly coveted of the group.
“It started with me and when Drake joined that’s when we really knew it could be something special,” Young said. “I think me and him were like the main foundation of getting a bunch of other guys to commit, especially like Kash, because he had other options first. He was really looking at South Carolina but we stayed on him and helped reel him in.”
Since Mark Stoops and company came to Lexington, the level of recruiting has seen a notable spike. But the Wildcats have also been victim to some late flips. Young said he’s been frustrated to see it happen and wanted to make sure this year wouldn’t be the same thing.
“The three of us being able to stay solid throughout the whole commitment process all through three years since I committed after my freshman year has been really a lot to show for other guys that are thinking about Kentucky,” Young said. “They’re saying, ‘Well, these guys are staying committed so long, they must’ve seen something way back then and it just keeps on getting better or else they wouldn’t stay committed.’”
As the week in San Antonio as gone along, all three have proved that they not only belong alongside the nation’s elite, but they could be among the group’s best. Daniel and Jackson will serve as captains for the West team and all three players are expected to start the game.
“We’re proving to ourselves that we can compete at this level and not just the best of Kentucky,” Jackson said. “We’re proving we can compete and be named starters on a game like this and captains. It’s a big deal for us.”
Regardless of how the game plays out, all three players said that the week in San Antonio is just a continuation of the bond they’ve developed and that will continue to evolve in Lexington.
“We just build that bond so that when we roll over into college, I think it’s going to pay off well for us,” Daniel said. “Because if you’ve got a brotherhood starting off before you even get to college, just imagine how it’s going to be when you step on the field with each other.”