Apr. 20, 2019

Drew Lock and Kevin Pendleton

By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net

The excitement for next week’s 2019 NFL Draft continues to build all over Lee’s Summit. This is a result Lee’s Summit’s Drew Lock expected to be a first-round draft pick. Lock, a Lee’s Summit High School graduate and former Mizzou quarterback is one of 23 players invited to attend the NFL draft being held in Nashville, Tennessee. Lock is one of three QB’s in attendance due to the expectation of all of them being taken in the opening round on Thursday, Apr. 25.

While Lock and members of his immediate family are in Nashville awaiting to hear his name mentioned there will be gatherings all over Lee’s Summit watching the draft unfold. A large reason for this is due to Drew’s father, Andy Lock, hosting draft watch parties at every one of his local restaurants. Third Street Social in Downtown Lee’s Summit has plans to extend happy hour specials from 6 p.m. till close. The Summit Grill has the same specials running till 11 p.m. Both the Pearl Tavern and Lakewood Local will be doing the same as fans and friends of Drew Lock fill the venues full of anticipation. At some point in the evening those who have followed Drew’s career from the high school level through college will see him reach the highest level of football, the National Football League.

Another Lee’s Summit native went through the draft preparation process this past spring, LS West High School graduate and Mizzou OL Kevin Pendleton. Pendleton, a guard, will be watching the draft from his home in Columbia, Missouri. Kevin says he is “Excited to watch Drew get picked up.” On Friday night when rounds two and three of the draft are held Kevin will be back in Kansas City watching with his family. Saturday is the final day of the three day NFL draft as rounds 4 through 7 are held. Kevin “will be watching to see other MU guys get drafted.”

Leading up to NFL draft weekend Drew Lock was in the spotlight at the NFL draft combine annually held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lock found himself back in the spotlight again at a pro day event held at Mizzou where a number of NFL teams sent scouts to watch including the Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL draft preparation was also a busy time for Kevin Pendleton as he worked out and continued to train at MU.

Pendleton was among a group of local players invited to the KC Chiefs annual local pro day held at the team’s practice facility. Another LS West grad was also invited to the event coming from Missouri Western was Austin Burau. During this time of NFL Draft preparation Kevin talked to Chris Burrows his offensive line coach at Lee’s Summit West. In addition to Coach Burrows Kevin visited with two more of his coaches who possess NFL backgrounds, Limbo Parks and Damion McIntosh, regarding what to expect from this process. The Titans coaches told Kevin “To do your best and enjoy it no matter what.” While Lock is expected to be a high draft pick Pendleton’s status in unclear. If he is not drafted Kevin plans to wait for his phone to ring to be invited to a camp with an NFL team. If that doesn’t happen Kevin says “Will just celebrate a great career at Mizzou with his family.”

At some point on the night of Thursday, Apr. 25 Drew Lock will hear his name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Lock will head to the podium inside Nissan Stadium to hold on to a jersey belonging to the team that just drafted him.

Back home in Lee’s Summit chants of Drew, Drew, Drew will break out at all the watch parties. Fans and friends who once cheered for Drew at Bud Hertzog Stadium at Lee’s Summit High School then Faurot Field at Mizzou will now get a chance to do it again this time with Drew in the National Football League.

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