Jordan Young has a simple rationale for why he puts his body through a pounding every day at Navy football practice knowing there is a good chance he will never play a down at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
“I love these guys and would do anything for them,” he said. “The fact that I?ve never seen the field and maybe I never will is OK with me because I love my brothers.”
This is exactly how far Young is from being able to run out on the field: He?s listed as a linebacker in the team?s media guide, but he is a tight end on the scout team. It?s been a big adjustment for a kid who arrived in Annapolis from Zanesville, Ohio, where he was a three-time All-Ohio selection in high school.
“Jordan is the consummate team player; I couldn?t have any more respect for him,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “He does whatever you ask to make this team better. Everybody can?t be the quarterback, and everyone can?t carry the ball and be in the limelight. To have a successful team, everyone has to embrace [his role].”
Young is convinced the hours he spends getting pounded by the starting defense has contributed to the Midshipmen (7-4) earning their fifth consecutive postseason invitation ? a Dec. 20 Poinsettia Bowl date in San Diego.
“I feel like if I can push them a little harder during practice, then they will be more prepared on Saturday,” he said. “If I can give them a little extra motivation, then hopefully they can carry that over onto the field.”
Young?s four years of football at the academy have not been easy. His low point came before this season, when he thought about quitting the team to concentrate on academics and his ultimate goal of becoming a flight officer ? a career choice he received last week.
But the economics major realized ? after speaking with co-captain Jeff Deliz ? that his teammates wanted him to stand on the sideline during games and not watch from the stands with the brigade.
“I never thought about leaving the academy, but there was a point when I started to think whether football was something I wanted to continue,” Young said.
“Jeff told me to stay, ?because you?re an inspiration to all of us, and we want you to remain a part of this team. We want you to stick with it.?
“When your brothers say they want you [on the team], it means a lot, and helps you stick it out.”
» Jordan on Rudy: “The one thing that stands out in my mind is when Rudy got into a fight with one of the big offensive linemen. It starts a brawl, and then Rudy gets killed on the next play. I feel like that when I?m out here sometimes, because if I start something like that, it jacks the guys up in practice. They work a little harder, and hopefully it helps them on Saturday.”
