It’s not always easy to follow in your big brother’s footsteps.
Just don’t tell Centennial junior safety (soon-to-be running back/wide receiver) Jaydin Young who is primed to write his own script in Coyotes’ football lore over the next two years.
That’s quite a feat considering older Dedrick is arguably the top player in program history and has accumulated over 200-career tackles over the past three seasons at outside linebacker for the University of Nebraska.
Jaydin was a centerpiece for one of the state’s top defenses. He led Centennial in total tackles and pass deflections, while finishing with four interceptions.
However, Young’s eye-popping statistical success seemed to even catch him by surprise.
“It was way more than I expected to be honest,” Young humbly explained to Sports360AZ.com. “It was faster and far more intense than I expected. The game just moved really quick.”
That’s a scary comment for opposing coaches considering Young’s poise and production for the 5A State Champions. Two of his better games were against national power St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) and the Yotes’ state title win over previously unbeaten Notre Dame Prep in Tucson.
“I’d seen him play Pop Warner and I knew he’d fit right in,” Centennial head coach Richard Taylor said with a grin to Sports360AZ.com. “When Jaydin lines them up, he does not miss tackles.”
Despite having two full seasons left, it hasn’t deterred college coaches from around the country reaching out to Taylor and his staff to inquire about Young, who expects to get plenty of snaps on offense this fall, as well.
The brothers, while having different body types (Dedric is taller, biger) and personalities (Jaydin more outgoing), remain close with football being a common bond.
“Sometimes we’ll be in the garage lifting weights and we’ll [talk football],” Jaydin said with a smile. “The other day we just raced and I actually beat him. So I proved that I’m the better athlete in the family.”
Ah, brotherly love.
Eric Sorenson
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