Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2024 67 2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER K edren Young seemed destined to end up playing in the Lone Star State for his years as a collegiate student-athlete. The standout prospect had the likes of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor and Houston on his offer sheet, but he only took two official visits — to Notre Dame and the University of Texas At San Antonio — before making his commit- ment last summer. His trip to San Antonio to see the Roadrunners occurred at the end of last April, and Young's official visit to South Bend was the weekend of June 3. And a day after returning home from Notre Dame, Young announced on social me- dia that he committed to the Fighting Irish. So, how does a kid from Lufkin, Texas, end up in South Bend? "It's a little different, but it felt like home there," Young told Blue & Gold Illustrated in early January during the week of the All-American Bowl, which takes place annually in San Antonio. "Coach [Marcus] Freeman, Coach [Deland] McCullough and the whole coaching staff and the recruits — we all bonded. I didn't feel like that anywhere else. The connection is just different." The academic component of Notre Dame played a major role in Young's decision to pick the Irish. Young took his official visit to campus with his mother Sonna, an educator, and siblings, and they all loved the experience. Young had an eye-popping senior campaign, rushing 226 times for 1,366 yards with 15 touchdowns in just 10 games. His performance caught the at- tention of other programs that hoped to flipped him away from the Irish. Their efforts were unsuccessful. "Other schools still contacted me, but I told them I was staying with Notre Dame," Young stated. Young is a part of a two running back class — the Irish also signed Aneyas Williams out of Hannibal (Mo.) High. "Not only is he fast, but he can catch the ball, too," noted Young. "With me and my size and his speed, we have good attributes that can mix." The 6-foot, 217-pounder is a film junkie. Some of his favorite NFL run- ning backs to study are Christian Mc- Caffrey (49ers), Saquon Barkley (Gi- ants), Josh Jacobs (Raiders) and Derrick Henry (Titans). "It's their technique," he said when asked what he looks for in watching their tape. "Before they carry the ball, I look at their feet. I watch how they cut and all that stuff." Young participated in the 2024 All- American Bowl and finished as the No. 79 overall prospect and No. 5 running back nationally according to On3. "I'm blessed," said Young. "When I first walked into the Alamodome, I just looked up, realized how blessed I am and tried to take it all in." ✦ Young defied the odds when he picked Notre Dame over the powerhouse programs from the Lone Star State. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY KEDREN YOUNG RUNNING BACK 6-0 ∙ 217 LUFKIN H.S. LUFKIN, TEXAS RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 79 5 16 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 127 10 22 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 17 45 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 111 4 16 STATISTICS • Is Lufkin (Texas) High's all-time leading rusher with 3,936 yards and 45 touchdowns. • Holds his school's record for rushing yards in a game (317), carries in a game (34) and the longest run (99 yards). • Rushed 226 times for 1,366 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. • Registered 1,666 yards and 19 touchdowns on 237 rushes in 10 outings as a junior. • Recorded 168 rushes for 973 yards and 11 scores as a sophomore. NOTABLE • Played in the 2024 All-American Bowl. • Earned first-team All-Texas 7-5A District honors in 2022 and 2023, and was a unanimous selection as a senior. • Also received a varsity letter in track and field. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Irish on June 5, 2023. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January. • Also held offers from Miami, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. • Recruited by running backs coach Deland Mc- Cullough. • Visited Notre Dame twice, including his official visit on June 3, 2023. 2024 PROJECTION • Can compete for playing time as a freshman while offering bell-cow running back upside. THEY SAID IT Prep Football Report recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "That's a big-time guy. He might even be close to a five-star back. For me, he's a four-star- plus. He's a power back who is really put together. He can be a big star at Notre Dame. "Young is one of the best running backs in the state of Texas. He has the speed and is really dif- ficult to tackle. This is a great catch. Deland Mc- Cullough has really brought things up a notch. Their running back stable is going to be really good. Kedren is a very good one." On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "We're very high on Young's skill set. He played behind a very small and inexperienced offensive line this year. It was tough sledding, but we like his size and speed. He catches the ball well, and his change of direction is good. "He's going to really enjoy running behind Notre Dame's offensive line because he had to fight for a lot of his yardage as a senior at Lufkin." Texas Running Back Kedren Young Felt Most At Home At Notre Dame