FAYETTEVILLE — Bentonville West linebacker Kendall Young and his Wolverines have an off week coming up and he will use the time to solidify where he wants to play college football.
Young (6-5, 210 pounds) said Friday night after his team lost 17-10 to No. 2 Bryant that he plans to make his decision between Arkansas, Missouri and Vanderbilt public next Saturday, Sept. 15.
“I was going to make it this weekend, but we have a bye next weekend so I am definitely making it next weekend,” Young said. “…I will probably make a video.”
Arkansas has stayed in constant contact with Young. Defensive coordinator John Chavis and defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell are heading up Young’s recruiting.
“Me and Coach Caldwell talk a lot,” Young said. “I really like Coach Chavis and I think that is an NFL-type coaching staff on defense.”
Young, who had 85 tackles, 13 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 5 pass deflections, an interception and a forced fumble as a junior, sized up his final three schools.
“Arkansas, it is a hometown feel,” Young said. “I know a lot of people, of course, in Northwest Arkansas. I like the coaches and I like what they are doing.
“Mizzou, that is a family-oriented program I feel like. I like what they have got going on at Mizzou. I would be playing defensive end over there.
"Vanderbilt, Nashville is a great city - fun, everything is going on and I would be playing the same position as I play here, the star position.”
Bentonville West (0-3), which opened last season by winning its first nine games in just its second year of competition, is struggling because of injuries to some key player this season.
That includes wide receiver Jadon Jackson (6-2, 175), who has offers from Arkansas, Georgia and others, and has been out two weeks, and quarterback Will Jarrett, who was lost to a season-ending injury in the season opener.
The Wolverines were deep in Bryant territory twice for potential game-tying scores late in the fourth quarter, but came up empty both times.
“Yes, we did miss Jadon today,” Young said. “He is one of our top targets. Will being out for the season, that hurt us a little bit. We are going through adversity right now, but we have to step through it. We have got to play better.”
Bryant scored one of its touchdowns on a 43-yard touchdown dash by Latavion Scott when Young was slightly shaken up and was out of the game for a play.
“I have got to make tackles,” Young said. “I got to the quarterback about three times where I just missed the tackle. I have got to do better. That is all there is to it. I am going to get better for sure."
Bentonville West will visit Fayetteville (2-0) - which had a bye Friday night - on Sept. 21 in its next contest.
“I’m going to come back better and my team is going to come back better and I think we are going to get the W against the Purple Dogs," Young said.