Lindale Receiver Kendrick Price Jr. Picks Up Offer From Northwestern State

The waiting game is over for Lindale's Kendrick Price Jr.

Northwestern State unlocked the Division I door for the senior receiver with a college football scholarship opportunity Thursday. Price reported the news to ETSN.fm a few moments after he heard official word from the Demons' coaching staff.

Price (6-3, 190) now has something to weigh against his very first offer from Southern Arkansas of the Division II ranks, which reached out to him on Dec. 22.

All of the positive news comes on the heels of a 5-5 regular season for Lindale and a one-round trip into the postseason.

As one of the smallest Class 5A schools state wide, this past campaign was its best of four straight seasons in the classification. Four of its five total losses came by less than a touchdown, and three of its four District 16-5A defeats came in the final minute of the games. Lindale's largest loss of the season was 10 points to league champion John Tyler.

Price's program faced a lot of adversity, but it managed to reach the playoffs thanks to a fourth-place tiebreaker against Nacogdoches and Corsicana on point differential before falling to Marshall, 21-17.

Lindale owned perhaps the best standalone defense within East Texas.

Price, however, gave opposing teams more to think about as his side's top vertical threat while running back Ryan Taylor and wildcat quarterback Tayton Williams pounded the ball behind a good offensive line to help complete the skill set of the playoff squad.

The receiver's best asset is his on-field vision.

Some of his top plays of 2015 were short routes and screens he managed to ride out behind blockers before he chose to hit top speed. His vision also allowed him to be a quasi-running game threat as the team's second favorite toss pass sweep option behind Williams.

Northwestern State's recruiting presence in Smith County might be its best selling point in its effort to land Price. Chapel Hill offensive lineman Jeremy West and Chapel Hill kicking specialist Austyn Fendrick are parts of its shortly-to-sign recruiting class.

Aside from being close in proximity to one another, Chapel Hill and Lindale have an established competitive history. The teams met on the first week of the season through Price's high school career with Lindale holding a 3-1 advantage, including this past season's 27-0 victory.

The Demons will have at least four other players from the East Texas region on their 2016 team. Other players Price would be familiar with are former John Tyler cornerback Isaac Warren and former Van defensive end Brice Borgeson.

Former Lindale linebacker Jacob Merriman wrapped up his college career this past season as Northwestern State finished a 4-7 campaign.

Through a 108-year history, the Demons have won 12 conference titles and own a 631-398-40 record.

Price would have the opportunity to face Baylor and Louisiana-Monroe next season if he signs with the program and does not redshirt.

The receiver, like all high school football seniors with football offers, will become eligible to sign with any program that offers him Feb. 3.