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I'm posting this here, cuz so many are interested...
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Don't be too surprised if Young is in '06 draft
For those who missed the appearance by Vince Young on Pardon the Interruption this week, well, let's just say the University of Texas quarterback wasn't exactly steadfast in reiterating his previously stated stance that he will return for his senior season in 2006.
And that's because, not surprisingly, the Heisman Trophy candidate is considering his options.
In fact, ESPN.com has learned that Young and his family, with one wary eye on the NCAA rules concerning maintaining his eligibility and the other on the first round of the '06 NFL draft, have begun to consider potential agents. Not consider in the sense that they are winnowing down a laundry list of suitors, or even auditioning any potential representatives, although that latter element could change as soon as Saturday, following the Big 12 title game. Rather, the family, in a much broader sense and well within NCAA guidelines, is listening to recommendations and designing an interview process in the event that Young ultimately decides the NFL siren song is simply too tempting.
For now, the process is more than a little unclear, according to people in the know. There is a local Houston attorney, and longtime family friend, who recently became accredited by the NFL Players Association to represent players, and who is telling some people that he will have a role in Young's decision. The person with the most influence, however, is Young's mother, who he lists as his "favorite superhero" in his media guide bio. And Ray Seals, his former coach at Madison High School in Houston, is almost certain to be among those counseling the quarterback about his future.
League scouts, of course, are eyeing the Young situation with considerable interest. The senior crop of quarterbacks for the '06 draft -- led by Southern California's Matt Leinart, fast-rising Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt and perhaps the underachieving but talented Brodie Croyle of Alabama -- is not viewed as a strong one. While scouts are a bit divided over Young, with some feeling that Notre Dame's Brady Quinn is the superior junior, there is little doubt he would be a first-round pick if he entered the draft as an underclassman.
Young has great physical stature, has played in and won some big games, and is viewed by teammates as a terrific leader. The early read from scouts is that he might not be quite as athletic as all those long runs make him appear to be, but there are plenty of tools and a lot of intangibles to work with.
This season, Young, who tends to be his own toughest critic, has completed 168 of 268 passes for 2,576 yards, with 23 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He has rushed 128 times for 793 yards and eight touchdowns.
It's hardly a slam dunk, as is the case with juniors like the Southern Cal tailback tandem of Reggie Bush and LenDale White, that Young will be in the '06 draft. He is said to be a good listener, open to advice, and will probably lean a bit on Texas coach Mack Brown, who has a legion of NFL contacts, for counsel as well. But the jump to the NFL is a lot more viable now for Young than it was only a few months ago, and no one should be too surprised when recruiters start cozying up to him within minutes of the end of Saturday's conference championship game.
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Don't be too surprised if Young is in '06 draft
For those who missed the appearance by Vince Young on Pardon the Interruption this week, well, let's just say the University of Texas quarterback wasn't exactly steadfast in reiterating his previously stated stance that he will return for his senior season in 2006.
And that's because, not surprisingly, the Heisman Trophy candidate is considering his options.
In fact, ESPN.com has learned that Young and his family, with one wary eye on the NCAA rules concerning maintaining his eligibility and the other on the first round of the '06 NFL draft, have begun to consider potential agents. Not consider in the sense that they are winnowing down a laundry list of suitors, or even auditioning any potential representatives, although that latter element could change as soon as Saturday, following the Big 12 title game. Rather, the family, in a much broader sense and well within NCAA guidelines, is listening to recommendations and designing an interview process in the event that Young ultimately decides the NFL siren song is simply too tempting.
For now, the process is more than a little unclear, according to people in the know. There is a local Houston attorney, and longtime family friend, who recently became accredited by the NFL Players Association to represent players, and who is telling some people that he will have a role in Young's decision. The person with the most influence, however, is Young's mother, who he lists as his "favorite superhero" in his media guide bio. And Ray Seals, his former coach at Madison High School in Houston, is almost certain to be among those counseling the quarterback about his future.
League scouts, of course, are eyeing the Young situation with considerable interest. The senior crop of quarterbacks for the '06 draft -- led by Southern California's Matt Leinart, fast-rising Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt and perhaps the underachieving but talented Brodie Croyle of Alabama -- is not viewed as a strong one. While scouts are a bit divided over Young, with some feeling that Notre Dame's Brady Quinn is the superior junior, there is little doubt he would be a first-round pick if he entered the draft as an underclassman.
Young has great physical stature, has played in and won some big games, and is viewed by teammates as a terrific leader. The early read from scouts is that he might not be quite as athletic as all those long runs make him appear to be, but there are plenty of tools and a lot of intangibles to work with.
This season, Young, who tends to be his own toughest critic, has completed 168 of 268 passes for 2,576 yards, with 23 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He has rushed 128 times for 793 yards and eight touchdowns.
It's hardly a slam dunk, as is the case with juniors like the Southern Cal tailback tandem of Reggie Bush and LenDale White, that Young will be in the '06 draft. He is said to be a good listener, open to advice, and will probably lean a bit on Texas coach Mack Brown, who has a legion of NFL contacts, for counsel as well. But the jump to the NFL is a lot more viable now for Young than it was only a few months ago, and no one should be too surprised when recruiters start cozying up to him within minutes of the end of Saturday's conference championship game.
