Central's Young among football recruits to participate in Junior Day at Mizzou

It's no secret that Al Young has impressed the likes of fans, opposing coaches and players during his past two football seasons at Central.

The junior, who amassed 1,446 total yards and 25 touchdowns and helped the Tigers reach their first state game last season, is still focused on ending his career with Central on a high note.

But as he prepares for that final season, Young is also catching the attention of the football coaching staff at Missouri and other major college programs.

A month ago, Young was invited to attend Junior Day at Missouri by members of the Tigers' coaching staff. On Saturday, Young and Central offensive coordinator Tim McGuire made the trip to Missouri for a chance to meet coaches, check out the facilities, attend a basketball game and understand how the recruiting process will take place.

"It was for the juniors that they're planning on recruiting, so they brought everybody in to tour the football facilities," McGuire said. "It was kind of just one of those things to promote the program, talk to coaches and then kind of getting to walk through the recruiting process and see what's going to happen, what to expect and kind of what they need to do for their senior year. It was a real good thing for Al."

Young, who already has received a scholarship offer from Southeast Missouri State coach Tom Matukewicz, was one of about 40 potential Missouri recruits to make the trip to Columbia, according to McGuire.

During his visit, Young got a first-hand look into the program through several Missouri coaches, including offensive coordinator Josh Henson, newly hired defensive coordinator Barry Odom and safeties coach Ryan Walters.

"I talked to the offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator and some others," Young said. "They told me they loved my film and that they could see me playing defense, or basically anywhere on offense. They said that either way it would be good to get the ball in my hands. They're not for sure on what they want me to play yet, but they're definitely interested. I felt at home, like, they were showing me so much attention. I kind of liked that and could get used to it for sure."

McGuire said Young has been on the two-time defending SEC East champions' radar for some time now and added that Henson made a special visit to see Young play last season.

"Coach Henson, the offensive coordinator, he's been down to the school last year during the season. He's the one that's kind of been front running everything," McGuire said. "He got Al in touch with their safeties coach because as of right now, most likely they'll just go through numbers on how many they can recruit for each position and then they'll have to go target him at whatever position they want to get him at. So if they don't have enough scholarships for receivers, then they're probably going to try and recruit him as a defensive back. That's just to get him in to the program, get him situated. They'll just start there and if anything else, you know, he might play offense, he might play defense and most likely special teams. Kind of like what he already does for us."

McGuire and Young said they don't expect to see an offer from Missouri until next season but couldn't diminish the value of just how interested they were during the visit.

"There was a coach with us pretty much the whole time. Justin Kramer, who was at Southeast previously, is now on their defensive side as an analyst. So it was either him, the safeties coach, coach Henson and Odom, the new [defensive coordinator] that was with Al," McGuire said. "There was always a coach with us throughout the entire time, so I think that really made Al feel like he was wanted and really sought after by these guys."

There was plenty to take away from the trip, but the biggest thing that caught Young's attention was how much the university stresses academics.

"That basically opened everybody's eyes. We were all kind of like, 'Dang, we need to focus on that,'" Young said. "The whole grading scale is changing for me in 2016 no matter where I go, and there is so much you have to do now. I learned that you have to make sure academics come first."

McGuire said academics have been a priority for Young ever since he became a standout all-around player with the Tigers during his sophomore season.

"Al has been doing real well in school. We had a serious talk after his sophomore year, his breakout season," McGuire said. "I kind of just told him, 'If you can make a B average for the rest of your time, you'll be able to pick whatever school you want to go to because they're going to come calling.' He kind of embraced it and his been working real hard. That just kind of affirms to him that that is exactly what he needs to be doing right now, is school work."

Young said he knows there will be other talented players gunning for a spot on the team just as he is. His visit to Missouri made that even more clear.

Central's Al Young toured the football locker room and facilities as part of Junior Day at the University of Missouri on Saturday in Columbia, Missouri. Young was one of about 40 high school juniors to receive an invitation from the Missouri coaching staff. (Tim McGuire ~ Submitted photo)

"This kind of opened my eyes because I've seen a couple kids that I know get offers from them, or at least want to go there. And I've kind of seen some of those kids [play] and I just think, 'I'm just as good or better than them,'" Young said. "I guess what it really made me see was the fact that I've got to do better or shine more to get that offer."

Young said he hasn't decided on where he wants to play football at the collegiate level and will weigh his options and attend camps this summer before coming to a conclusion. He's heard from other schools who are interested in him, but said Missouri is in the mix.

"There are other schools, but I mean Mizzou, they're in my top five," Young said.

While Missouri remains in his top five, McGuire said Young will have to weigh a lot of options before deciding on the perfect fit for him.

"Mizzou interests him a lot. It's up there. It's an in-state school, so it's closer for his family," McGuire said. "There's a couple others that he's talked to. Nebraska is wanting him to come up this summer for their camps and everything, so he's got a lot to decide before he actually makes that decision, but Mizzou is definitely up there for him. He loved the atmosphere. He was really interested in everything that they had to say and what they would offer him if he would play for them. So yeah, Mizzou is definitely on his radar and definitely in his favorites right now. And I think it's nice for him to see that he's on their radar, too."