Cats Have Another Good Showing
While they didn’t quite match the success of last year’s draft which saw five players chosen Mark Stoops’ club fared well. With two Wildcats selected and several signing free agent deals let’s break it down with our 2020 Kentucky NFL Draft Recap.
“Mr. Do Everything”
In the days leading up to Thursday, many draft experts called Lynn Bowden “the most interesting player in the draft.” As a result of him playing multiple positions at Kentucky, the biggest question was “where will he play in the NFL?” Many mock drafts had him going anywhere from the third to fifth round. In our draft preview we had Bowden going to New England around pick 100. However he didn’t last that long, as the Las Vegas Raiders took him at pick 80.
A do-it-all weapon. 💥
With the 80th pick, we have selected WR Lynn Bowden Jr. from @UKFootball. pic.twitter.com/O5MR1iXWD8
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 25, 2020
The Raiders listed him at wide receiver however the networks covering the draft had him at running back. This again shows his versatility as this year’s Paul Hornung Award Winner. By all accounts Jon Gruden plans on using him in the backfield, where he ran for 1,468 yards and 13 touchdowns in only eight games. However look for him eventually to play all over the field much like Deebo Samuel or Taysom Hill.
Of course in true Kentucky “we get no respect” fashion the networks mispronounced his name saying “Bow-den” like former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden instead of “BO-den.” Then ESPN put up a ridiculously incorrect graphic saying he and former Cat Randall Cobb went to the same high school.
I went to ALCOA HS @Alcoafootball in TN! 😂🤣 We do have a LOT of similarities. Most underrated pick in the draft thus far! Go Ball @LynnBowden_1 pic.twitter.com/wklEE4K6A8
— Randall Cobb (@rcobb18) April 25, 2020
Las Vegas absolutely loaded up at the receiver position in this year’s draft. In addition to Bowden they also selected Henry Ruggs III from Alabama with the 12th pick. They also chose South Carolina’s Bryan Edwards with the 81st pick right after Bowden. That’s a lot of firepower for Derek Carr to work with.
Continuing on with our 2020 Kentucky NFL Draft Recap let’s look at the other Cat selected.
Motor City Bound
With the 121st pick in the fourth round the Detroit Lions selected offensive guard Logan Stenberg. In our draft preview we had the six foot six 322 pound Stenberg going to Kansas City at pick 145.
Welcome to the D, Logan Stenberg! #NFLDraft | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/S5YL6rLjns
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 25, 2020
He started 39 straight games over his last three seasons at Kentucky. As part of the “Big Blue Wall” the left guard helped lead the Cats to the fourth best rushing attack in college football. In addition he only allowed one quarterback pressure and no sacks over the last two years. He’s got a bit of a nasty streak but needs to control his emotions at the next level.
The Lions have had good success with offensive lineman from Kentucky as they selected Larry Warford in the third round of the 2013 draft. The also marks the first time since 1979-1980 in which the Cats had offensive linemen taken in successive drafts. The New York Giants took George-Asafo Adjei in the seventh round last year.
More Cats Looking For Roster Spots
In addition to Bowden and Stenberg three more Cats signed free agent deals. Calvin Taylor, a player we thought might go in the later rounds, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joins former Cats Bud Dupree and Benny Snell.
Defensive lineman T.J. Carter signed with the Arizona Cardinals while wide receiver Ahmad Wagner inked a deal with the Chicago Bears.
Looking Toward The Future
While only having two players drafted may not seem like a big deal, for Kentucky it’s significant. Stoops now has seven players picked in the last two years after the school only had 11 chosen from 2010-2018. Furthermore in 2017 and 2018 they had no players taken.
Big things are expected from the Kentucky football team in 2020, assuming there is a college football season. As a result look for the school to have several names called in the 2021 draft including Quinton Bohanna, Drake Jackson, and Landon Young to name a few.
Thanks for checking out our 2020 Kentucky NFL Draft Recap here at Last Word On College Football. While you’re at it take a look at all the draft recaps from the schools across the country.
