Some say that only talent and skill propel elite athletes to the next level, however, Devonte Young (16’) epitomizes not only those two attributes, but the most important one of all: work-ethic. On Wednesday, Young made official his Letter-of-Intent to play football for the University of Iowa, fulfilling a pledge he had made to Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz over the summer. In accomplishing his goal to play football for the Division 1 Iowa Hawkeyes, Young has proved a lot to his fellow teammates, his family and most of all, himself. Competing in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference, Young felt immense pressure to succeed amongst other athletes in the district looking to be recruited. However, this goal was no easy feat as the competition yielded excellent competitors during the past football season. Staying determined, despite these tough circumstances, Young was ultimately named the most outstanding player in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference. In addition, he also came out as the top recruit in the Southern Maryland region earning All-Met and the Maryland consensus all-state honors at defensive back. “I owe it all to hard work,” expressed Young. “I just wanted to be the best player for my teammates, they worked hard in the weight room and they were looking up to me.”

Moving forward, Young remains optimistic about his future as a Hawkeye. Just recently, he made a trip to Iowa City to reconnect with Coach Ferentz and some other friends he met over the summer. While he is extremely excited about playing as a wide receiver for Iowa, he will always remember the great times he had during his high school career: breaking records, accomplishing remarkable stats, and achieving prestigious awards. That being said, despite his outstanding triumphs, the senior athlete isn’t letting his ego get too big. “It’s only the beginning,” he stated. “It means I have to work harder. Once I get over there, I’m just going to be a freshman again.”