Kenny Logan, Defensive Difference Maker

By Barry Every
SouthernPigskin.com

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Last year as a sophomore he carried the ball 65 times for 445 yards and three scores while averaging over 22 yards per reception on 18 catches. Defensively the Falcon standout was third in tackles with 46 while leading the team with five interceptions.

Unfortunately St. Augustine (Fla.) Menendez is not known as one of the hotbeds in recruiting, with just three winning seasons over the last 13 years. Four years ago the Falcons made a change at the helm attracting longtime North Carolina coach Patrick Turner as its new head man. In his four seasons with the Falcons they have won no less than five games in a season while making the playoffs three times.

One of the returning stars for the Falcons is 6-foot, 172-pound two-way standout Kenny Logan. Last year as a sophomore he carried the ball 65 times for 445 yards and three scores while averaging over 22 yards per reception on 18 catches. Defensively the Falcon standout was third in tackles with 46 while leading the team with five interceptions.

“Kenny is a really good player, I would say he is in the top five all-time in my 14 years as a coach,” Turner said. “I think he is as special as his brother Brandon James who went on to star at Florida. He can play either side of the ball but is at least five or six inches taller than his brother. He has that killer instinct and knows how to get the ball back when on the defensive side of the ball.”

Logan currently has offers from Campbell, Gardner-Webb and Southern Miss. It should come as no surprise that former Jacksonville area high school coach Dan Disch is the lead recruiter for the Eagles. His coach claims Kansas has made a verbal offer, but they did not stop by the school to give the offer in person.

“Honestly I’d like to play defense in college because that is where I can really make plays with my hands’” Logan said. “But if the right offer comes in and it’s on offense I’ll do that.”

After a standout performance at the Mercer Three Stripe camp two other schools have made their interest known, Boston College and Liberty. But the one school this hard hitting ball-hawking safety would like to hear from is Florida.

“Kenny is a major DI player at receiver or safety in my opinion,” Turner said. “I think he is probably more of a safety prospect; he was our Defensive MVP for the season despite playing mostly on the offensive side of the ball.”

Defensive backs willing to strike while possessing serious ball skills are always a hot commodity on the recruiting front. So once his film gets out and more colleges realize that Menendez does produce FBS/FCS level prospects, offers should start rolling in.

“Last year we had offensive lineman Connor Robbins sign with Georgia State,” Turner said. “And in my first season we had an under recruited linebacker by the name of Willie Harvey who led Iowa State in tackles last season.”

Logan currently has a 2.8 overall GPA and had made great strides as a student-athlete since his transfer from St. Augustine (Fla.) after his freshman season. He is also a three sport star, participating on the Falcon basketball team while taking part in track where he runs the 100-meters, 200-meters, 4×100-meters and long jump. His best time was a 22.1 in the 200-meters.

“He has really matured over the last two years after his transfer,” Turner said. “His academic progress has really changed since his freshman year and he is in all honor classes.”

On the camp circuit Logan did participate in the Rivals Three Stripe Camp in Orlando earlier this year. He also made one-day camp visits to Georgia, Jacksonville and Mercer, but he may be shutting down his camp tour to get ready for the season.

Last season the Falcons finished (5-5/3-3) in District 5-5A which includes state runner-up Green Cove Springs (Fla.) Clay and a very talented Glen St. Mary (Fla.) Baker County squad. So what do the Falcons need to do to make headway in such a strong District?

“We played with a lot of sophomores last year, so we should be pretty good this year and open some eyes,” Logan said. “I just have to continue to work on being a better leader and take control. I have to keep my teammates accountable for their actions, once you slack just a little you are letting the whole team down.”

Menendez starts their season off August, 25 at Middleburg (Fla.). But college recruiters looking to get a jump on the 2019 class should mark down September, 1 when the Falcons take on crosstown rival St. Augustine, a perineal First Coast power that has won ten or more games ten times since 2004.

Film doesn’t lie, I challenge college coaches from across the country to evaluate Logan’s ability to make plays. Versatility is the key to long term success in the game of football, and Logan is not only versatile but inclined to bring the wood in run support.