Male Athlete of the Issue: Najee Young

Written by: Zane Hermberg

Athletic teams are often spearheaded by their oldest and most experienced members. In Country Day’s case, the football team is fortunate enough to be led this season by an enduringly strong senior class, with one of its brightest players being Najee Young. He is always positive and willing to pick the team’s spirits up with a joke. He is also avid about keeping the locker room organized. “That’s our space,” he says. “We have to take care of it.” Young pushes the team forward with his humor, his accountability, and, in the most literal sense, his rushing yards. In 5 games, he ran for 172 yards, 81 of which during the Homecoming game against Tattnall County. There, Young scored 2 touchdowns, becoming a major contributor in the 34-21 comeback against the Warriors.

Unfortunately, that game was his last, as Young suffered an ACL tear partway through. But this has not deterred him and has not hindered his ability to lead. He is just as strong and encouraging in a brace as he is in pads. He continues to show up to practice early in the morning, eager to cheer the team on, make them laugh, and check to see if they cleaned up the locker room.