2019 IN WR Craig Young Could Be the Talk of Irish Invasion

Irish Invasion is less than two weeks away and 2019 Wayne (Ind.) receiver Craig Young could very well be the name people are talking about after the camp ends. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder has done extremely well on the track this spring and his receiver coach at AWP Sports (Athletes with Purpose), Dre Muhammad, sees a ton of potential in the Fort Wayne native.

“He’s as raw as they come right now,” Muhammad told Irish Sports Daily. “He is top five most athletic players in the country in his grade and just ran a 10.63 in the 100m last week.

“Skill-wise, he is working on it, and he needs to improve there for sure.”

Young has an impressive background on the hardwood, but Muhammad believes his future is on the gridiron. Indiana, Toledo, and Wisconsin have offered Young but more are on the horizon.

“Craig has been playing football and basketball for as long as he has played sports,” stated Muhammad. “Basketball, he is talented, but football, he has a great future. He is so athletic. He can dominate the game regardless of his skill level because he is so athletic.”

The word athletic was regularly mentioned by Muhammad, and it’s not just talk. AWP and the Fort Wayne area have produced many NFL and NBA athletes in recent years, but Young could be setting the bar right now.

“He is one of those once in a lifetime athlete when you talk about this area,” said Muhammad. “Every so often you get one of those athletes, and he’s one of them.”

It's a bold statement for a sophomore considering Jaylon Smith, Tyler Eifert, Drue Tranquill, and Austin Mack have recently come out of the AWP program.

“Right now, he is probably more athletic than any player we have ever had,” stated Muhammad. “You have to think he is a sophomore, running 10.6 and has vertical skills. Where he currently stands, he is one of the best athletes to ever come through Fort Wayne.”

Muhammad is excited to get Young back in the lab as the receiver has been on the track all spring. Young will work on technique, but also on improving his understanding and knowledge of the game.

“He has been in track, so he has been spending a lot of time there,” explained Muhammad. “The focus will be improving his skill when he does get back into it.

“It’s about getting him to understanding the essential marks of the game. From there, we will be developing his skill set. Athletically, there is no question that he will be one of the more athletic players at the camp, but it’s the basic skill and understanding – he’s been so successful on just his athleticism for so long.

“He hasn’t had to learn anything. Once he learns everything, he is going to open up everything and see his recruitment blow up.”

The intelligence of athletes coming out of the AWP program is noticeable, and Young fits the mold of past high school prospects. Young is a quick learner, and Muhammad doesn’t have to push him to work hard.

“Craig is a kid that does well in school, and he’s one of those kids that learns and goes with it regarding what you teach him,” said Muhammad. “You have to reiterate some things to him because he learning game is so new to him. There has been some hesitation or prolonged development mentally because he has to think the game through and it’s outside the scope of what he has been doing.

“He’s one of those kids that gets into it, and he’s a grinder. He isn’t one of those kids where you question how hard he is going to work. He’s a workaholic.”