Wide receiver Garrett Young signed with Air Force on signing day. Being a service academy, the signing is non-binding.
Not long after, Young got a text from Tennessee analyst Mack Scanlon. He had a new opportunity to join the Vols as a preferred walk-on. Young jumped at the chance, and he announced his commitment on Friday.
“I just fell in love with Tennessee,” Young told Off The Hook Sports. “The recruiting staff and everybody there was with me the whole time. It just felt like home. It had a cozy feeling.
“With everything coach Heupel is doing and where Tennessee is going, it was a hard opportunity to turn down.”
Young held scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, Louisville and Maryland. Young visited Tennessee for practice last week and realized it was where he wanted to be.
“Knoxville is just a beautiful city,” Young said. “The river and everything, and Neyland. I grew up wanting to go play SEC football and I had the opportunity to. It felt right.”
After pulling his groin this past spring, Young was unable to camp over the summer going into his senior year. A crucial time in a high school athlete’s recruitment, all Young had to offer was tape from his junior season.
Ultimately, Tennessee allows Young to better pursue his goals.
“With what I want to do, it was the better decision. Air Force is a great opportunity and for some people, it may be the right choice. But for me and my family, it was better to go to Tennessee.”
When comparing his options, the opportunity to grow as a wideout was something Young couldn’t pass up.
“Developing as a football player,” Young said on what he wants to achieve at Tennessee. “Coach Pope is one of the best and all the talent that Tennessee has is like the best place to develop in the offense.”
Young played his high school football at Alpharetta high school in Alpharetta, Georgia. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound wideout brings physicality to the position.
“I’m a very physical receiver,” he said.” I can go up and get it. I run good routes and I have good hands. I can block very well which is something I don’t think a lot of receivers can say.”
Young finished his senior season with 50 receptions for 846 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He finished his career as the all-time leader in both yards and receptions at Alpharetta.
“The offense we ran at high school is very similar. We run spread, a very fast-paced and complex offense. It’s definitely a big transition to go from high school to Tennessee football.
Young gets on campus May 28 to prepare for the football season. After playing power five talent in one of Georgia’s best divisions of high school football, he is looking forward for the chance to perform in the SEC.
“I like to think I come in the moments where it matters. In high school, my whole high school career, I was going up against four-star and five-star guys every week. Just being there when it matters and making the big plays is kind of what my name is I feel like.”
One Response
Just watched his Hudl highlights from his Twitter page…this kid can BALL! Great get for the Vols! GBO!