BY DAVE FAIRBANK
He wants 'two or more' sacks a game and to make the NFL.
He wants 'two or more' sacks a game and to make the NFL.
In one of his favorite pastimes, Kendall Langford doesn't follow form. It's understandable -- even appropriate -- for Hampton University's All-America defensive end candidate.
Most guys who play EA Sports' Madden video-game football on defense operate as a linebacker or maybe a free safety. More sideline-to-sideline action, defending both the run and the pass.
Langford, however, designates himself as a defensive end. He blows up running backs and crunches quarterbacks. He loves crunching quarterbacks, in pixels on TV screens and in the flesh on Saturdays.
"I'm usually good for two sacks a game," Langford said of his Madden exploits. "That's what I'm going for in the MEAC on the field this year, two sacks a game."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Two or more." Emphasis on "or more."
Langford has set the bar high for himself and the Pirates. They don't lack for motivation. After three consecutive MEAC titles, the Pirates were picked to finish second this season behind South Carolina State.
The Pirates have made three straight NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearances and have yet to make it out of the first round, even with home games in two of those three years.
On a more personal note, Langford aspires to play in the NFL.
Though the league is dotted with players from outside marquee conferences and programs, the path is often more difficult and the skeptics more numerous.
Langford often refers to a remark from HU head coach Joe Taylor.
"Coach Taylor always says, don't ever let someone expect more of you than you expect of yourself," Langford said. "So I have to be self-motivated."
Langford needs to look no further than his own locker room for proof that the NFL is a realistic goal. Former teammate Jerome Mathis is a kick returner and wide receiver with the Houston Texans. All-everything Pirates linebacker Justin Durant was drafted in the second round by Jacksonville last spring.
"He played with a chip on his shoulder," Langford said of Durant, "trying to prove that he was as good as anybody else. I don't care how big the chip is; you can't look past talent."
Langford certainly passes the first-glance test. He is 6-foot-5½ and 295 pounds, with long arms and an athlete's bearing.
HU defensive coordinator Jerry Holmes said, "Then, when you talk to him you can tell he wants to be something special, he wants to be good. And when you take it to the field, his work habits amplify that he wants to be one of the best, that he definitely wants to go to the next level."
Langford led the Pirates with eight sacks and 15½ tackles-for-loss last year.
His 55 total tackles were third on the team and led all defensive linemen.
"Having Kendall on the field, the other defensive linemen are going to get breaks they wouldn't have gotten if Kendall weren't there," Holmes said, "because Kendall's going to get a lot of double teams. That helps us out a lot in game-planning because we know a lot of teams are going to design their protection toward Kendall."
Holmes is inclined to turn Langford loose, confident in both his player's ability and in those around him.
"I like to let the defensive players play," Holmes said. "I know that Kendall can really rush the passer. I'm not going to get in his way and give him a lot of stuff -- he has 'contain' and this kind of stuff. I'm going to give him a free go at the passer. If you run a 4.5 (-second 40-yard dash), I'm going to let them run a 4.5. I don't want to give them a lot of stuff that will slow that 4.5 down."
Holmes played 10 seasons in the NFL and coached in the league for another five before coming to HU. When he says that Langford is a legit pro prospect, it carries extra weight.
In fact, Holmes said that he's heard Langford compared to Pro Bowlers Jason Taylor and Shawne Merriman -- quick, rangy perimeter pass rushers and havoc-wreakers who actually are a little lighter than Langford. Holmes said that he's even shared those comparisons with Langford, unconcerned that his player's head will swell.
"Because he's at a I-AA school, he's still hungry," Holmes said. "You might not tell a kid at Ohio State or USC that, but a kid at a I-AA school knows that he has to be that much better than a kid at a I-A school."
Langford, a Petersburg native, almost went to a I-A program. He seriously considered Virginia, Virginia Tech and Hampton out of Petersburg High.
He didn't get the required qualifying standardized test score until late in the summer before his freshman year. Virginia Tech had backed out of the recruiting process. Virginia still recruited him, Langford said, but wanted him to attend prep school for a year.
Hampton could afford to wait on a player of his potential and held a scholarship for him.
When Langford got the score he needed, he was able to enroll at HU immediately.
"I didn't want to wait a year before I started college," Langford said.
Langford doesn't engage in "what if …" thinking about Tech or Virginia.
"I'm well beyond that," he said. "I've made some lifetime friends. I played for a great coaching staff at a great program. I love Hampton. I can see that you can make it to the next level from this level."
Most guys who play EA Sports' Madden video-game football on defense operate as a linebacker or maybe a free safety. More sideline-to-sideline action, defending both the run and the pass.
Langford, however, designates himself as a defensive end. He blows up running backs and crunches quarterbacks. He loves crunching quarterbacks, in pixels on TV screens and in the flesh on Saturdays.
"I'm usually good for two sacks a game," Langford said of his Madden exploits. "That's what I'm going for in the MEAC on the field this year, two sacks a game."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Two or more." Emphasis on "or more."
Langford has set the bar high for himself and the Pirates. They don't lack for motivation. After three consecutive MEAC titles, the Pirates were picked to finish second this season behind South Carolina State.
The Pirates have made three straight NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearances and have yet to make it out of the first round, even with home games in two of those three years.
On a more personal note, Langford aspires to play in the NFL.
Though the league is dotted with players from outside marquee conferences and programs, the path is often more difficult and the skeptics more numerous.
Langford often refers to a remark from HU head coach Joe Taylor.
"Coach Taylor always says, don't ever let someone expect more of you than you expect of yourself," Langford said. "So I have to be self-motivated."
Langford needs to look no further than his own locker room for proof that the NFL is a realistic goal. Former teammate Jerome Mathis is a kick returner and wide receiver with the Houston Texans. All-everything Pirates linebacker Justin Durant was drafted in the second round by Jacksonville last spring.
"He played with a chip on his shoulder," Langford said of Durant, "trying to prove that he was as good as anybody else. I don't care how big the chip is; you can't look past talent."
Langford certainly passes the first-glance test. He is 6-foot-5½ and 295 pounds, with long arms and an athlete's bearing.
HU defensive coordinator Jerry Holmes said, "Then, when you talk to him you can tell he wants to be something special, he wants to be good. And when you take it to the field, his work habits amplify that he wants to be one of the best, that he definitely wants to go to the next level."
Langford led the Pirates with eight sacks and 15½ tackles-for-loss last year.
His 55 total tackles were third on the team and led all defensive linemen.
"Having Kendall on the field, the other defensive linemen are going to get breaks they wouldn't have gotten if Kendall weren't there," Holmes said, "because Kendall's going to get a lot of double teams. That helps us out a lot in game-planning because we know a lot of teams are going to design their protection toward Kendall."
Holmes is inclined to turn Langford loose, confident in both his player's ability and in those around him.
"I like to let the defensive players play," Holmes said. "I know that Kendall can really rush the passer. I'm not going to get in his way and give him a lot of stuff -- he has 'contain' and this kind of stuff. I'm going to give him a free go at the passer. If you run a 4.5 (-second 40-yard dash), I'm going to let them run a 4.5. I don't want to give them a lot of stuff that will slow that 4.5 down."
Holmes played 10 seasons in the NFL and coached in the league for another five before coming to HU. When he says that Langford is a legit pro prospect, it carries extra weight.
In fact, Holmes said that he's heard Langford compared to Pro Bowlers Jason Taylor and Shawne Merriman -- quick, rangy perimeter pass rushers and havoc-wreakers who actually are a little lighter than Langford. Holmes said that he's even shared those comparisons with Langford, unconcerned that his player's head will swell.
"Because he's at a I-AA school, he's still hungry," Holmes said. "You might not tell a kid at Ohio State or USC that, but a kid at a I-AA school knows that he has to be that much better than a kid at a I-A school."
Langford, a Petersburg native, almost went to a I-A program. He seriously considered Virginia, Virginia Tech and Hampton out of Petersburg High.
He didn't get the required qualifying standardized test score until late in the summer before his freshman year. Virginia Tech had backed out of the recruiting process. Virginia still recruited him, Langford said, but wanted him to attend prep school for a year.
Hampton could afford to wait on a player of his potential and held a scholarship for him.
When Langford got the score he needed, he was able to enroll at HU immediately.
"I didn't want to wait a year before I started college," Langford said.
Langford doesn't engage in "what if …" thinking about Tech or Virginia.
"I'm well beyond that," he said. "I've made some lifetime friends. I played for a great coaching staff at a great program. I love Hampton. I can see that you can make it to the next level from this level."
No comments:
Post a Comment