Kendall Langford, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Defensive End 6’ 6” 294 lbs. speed: 4.95 Hampton Senior |
Last year I wrote an article in my Small School NFL Draft Prospects Blog about Hampton being a Small School Football Factory for the NFL Draft and this season we have another Hampton Prospect in the spotlight. Langford might be the best small school (Football Championship Series, formerly known as 1AA) prospect in the nation. His stats are impressive: Entering his senior season he has played in 36 games with 27 starts and recorded 164 total tackles, 42.5 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks. He reminds me of The Dallas Cowboy’s Jason Hatcher (6’6” 290 lbs) who was also from a small school (Grambling), Hatcher was drafted in the 3rd round and that is an early projected round for Langford.
Langford is a unanimous Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Preseason All-American and the only player from the three-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion Pirates to be awarded unanimous preseason honors. Last year as a junior he lead all Hampton defensive linemen in tackles with 55 and was ranked second in the league with 15.5 tackles for loss and third in quarterback sacks with eight. This season (2007) Kendall Langford will become the first Hampton defensive lineman to be named first team all-conference three years in a row since Isaac Readon did it from 1983 to 1985.
Langford will be a hotly sought after prospect in the 2008 NFL Draft because his size, athletic ability and versatility. He could bulk up a little and play defensive tackle, similar to how the Rams are using 2007 first round NFL Draft pick Adam Carricker, who has almost identical size. He could of course be played at his natural defensive end position, but I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of him trimming down and playing outside linebacker for a team utilizing the 34 defense. The Cowboys’ Greg Ellis made a similar transaction.
No matter how or where he is played, he has immense NFL potential. Langford is very aggressive; he will never be labeled as a pile inspector. He plays football with a very high motor and when you see him move you would never believe he is only a biscuit away from 300 pounds. He has quick feet like a linebacker, plays with his head up and quickly finds the ball and diagnosis the play. Langford will have to fight the small school pedigree and he will have to learn a wider assortment of pass rushing moves. His body is already NFL ready, but he won’t be able to bull rush or run around the tackles in the NFL, he will have to learn how to use his hands better. As we get closer to the Scouting Combine and the NFL Draft, Kendall Langford will be a name whispered by all the NFL Scouts.
Update: Langford had a solid year in 2007, he finished first on his team in tackles with 72, he also recorded 13 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 5 QB hurries. He flashed some skills at the 2008 Senior Bowl, but wasn't dominate. He was invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine and looks like a late round prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft at this point.