Pirate signs with Gators

BRADEN RIVER — It wasn’t an easy decision.

It was one Braden River High senior Trevon Young wrestled with for months.

But, after numerous talks with his mother, Tracey, and his coaches, Young made his college intentions known Feb. 8 — two days after National Signing Day.

Surrounded by his mother; grandparents, Robert and Lillie Young; and cousin, Jarrell Garner, a tearful Young signed a national letter of intent to play football for the University of Florida.

Young played both football and basketball for the Pirates and received scholarship offers for both sports. But, after weighing his options, Young decided to pursue football.

“It’s a great time for me and my family,” Young says. “Education was a big part of (my decision), and at the end of the day I think football is the best for me (moving) on into the future. I think I made the right choice.”

In the week leading up to his signing, Young debated between playing football for Florida or basketball for Division II Eckerd College. During that time, he also led the Pirates to the Class 7A-District 11 semifinals.

Throughout the entire recruiting process, Braden River football coach Curt Bradley and basketball coach Matt Nesser didn’t attempt to sway Young toward one sport over the other.

They simply told him to do what would make him happy.

“When you get recruited to play two sports, you have a lot of people (talking) in your ear,” Bradley says. “At the end of the day, you don’t want to be in a situation where you talk a kid into not doing (something). The biggest disservice you can do is to (get them to go somewhere) and then have them resent their decision. He had to make the decision that’s best for him.”

After the Pirates’ season came to a close Feb. 6, Young called Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis the following day and told him his decision.

“It’s unexplainable,” Tracey Young says. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It’s a relief. As long as he’s happy — I just want him to be happy.”

Young, who plans to major in sports medicine, played on the Pirates’ offensive and defensive lines, but he could be a tight end or an offensive lineman for the Gators.

“I’ve got great feet, and I think I’ll be able to catch the ball in space,” Young says.

Young has never played tight end before, but it’s a position he aspires to play and one into which his coach could see him grow.

“Trevon’s one kid you never hear about, but you can’t help but notice him,” Bradley says. “He’s the size and athleticism that’s extremely rare in someone his size. It’s a tremendous combination.”