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Iowa State University Athletics
Football Newcomer Update: Anthony Young
01.31.2010 | Football
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State cornerback Anthony Young has only been on campus a short time. But he is here to work. The native of Ontario, Calif. has already put on 12 pounds under the eye of Iowa State strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight.
“In junior college, the weight training was more for maintenance of what you already had physically,” Young said. “Now we are working hard to add to what I've got.”
Young says playing corner is toughest job on the defensive side of the ball.
“Sometimes you are out there alone and when the ball goes up in the air all eyes are on you to see if you can make a play.”
Young was an all-CIF Southern Section choice at cornerback as a senior. It is laudable that he was recognized at all in his final prep season. A hamstring injury effectively ended his senior campaign after three games.
There is no doubt about his athletic ability. He had triple jumped nearly 48 feet in high school in addition to his football accomplishments.
The injury limited Young's presence on the recruiting trail.
“I decided to attend junior college,” Young said. “My mom wanted me to go somewhere else not so close to home so I could grow more as a person. I visited Palomar (Calif.) College and decided I liked it there.”
Palomar is situated in the northern part of San Diego County. Young played like someone who had found a home. He made 72 tackles his freshman season, led Palomar with 16 pass breakups and was defensive MVP in the Comets' Golden Empire Bowl victory. Young was even better last season. The team's 2009 defensive MVP made six interceptions, taking one to the house for a TD. Rivals.com ranked him one of the top 25 junior college players nationally.
Among those who noticed Young was Iowa State assistant coach Chris Ash. Ash's interest led to a visit from ISU head coach Paul Rhoads.
“My coach told me the head coach was coming to see me,” Young said. “When my mom met coach Rhoads and coach Ash, she just fell in love with them. That was big. It was the first time my mom felt that way about a school's coaches. I told my mom that I had decided to go to Iowa State. She told me, 'well you know how I feel about it.'”
For Paul Rhoads and the Iowa State football coaching staff, the feeling is mutual.
“In junior college, the weight training was more for maintenance of what you already had physically,” Young said. “Now we are working hard to add to what I've got.”
Young says playing corner is toughest job on the defensive side of the ball.
“Sometimes you are out there alone and when the ball goes up in the air all eyes are on you to see if you can make a play.”
Young was an all-CIF Southern Section choice at cornerback as a senior. It is laudable that he was recognized at all in his final prep season. A hamstring injury effectively ended his senior campaign after three games.
There is no doubt about his athletic ability. He had triple jumped nearly 48 feet in high school in addition to his football accomplishments.
The injury limited Young's presence on the recruiting trail.
“I decided to attend junior college,” Young said. “My mom wanted me to go somewhere else not so close to home so I could grow more as a person. I visited Palomar (Calif.) College and decided I liked it there.”
Palomar is situated in the northern part of San Diego County. Young played like someone who had found a home. He made 72 tackles his freshman season, led Palomar with 16 pass breakups and was defensive MVP in the Comets' Golden Empire Bowl victory. Young was even better last season. The team's 2009 defensive MVP made six interceptions, taking one to the house for a TD. Rivals.com ranked him one of the top 25 junior college players nationally.
Among those who noticed Young was Iowa State assistant coach Chris Ash. Ash's interest led to a visit from ISU head coach Paul Rhoads.
“My coach told me the head coach was coming to see me,” Young said. “When my mom met coach Rhoads and coach Ash, she just fell in love with them. That was big. It was the first time my mom felt that way about a school's coaches. I told my mom that I had decided to go to Iowa State. She told me, 'well you know how I feel about it.'”
For Paul Rhoads and the Iowa State football coaching staff, the feeling is mutual.
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DB
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