The Washington Redskins selected arguably the best overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft, bringing former Ohio State DE Chase Young back home to the District. In his first year in the NFL, he is already expected to have a significant impact on the defense, and he is the overwhelming favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
But what if I told you that he could have competed at high levels in something other than football?
It’s not an original ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, but a statement from Young’s high school basketball coach at DeMatha.
“If he wanted to be a Division I basketball player, he could have been. I want that to be very clear. You could see his talent and size and his work ethic,” said Mike Jones, the DeMatha basketball coach, via ESPN.
Growing up playing multiple sports, it was eventually football that had a clear-cut future for Young, but he was also a great player on the basketball court as well, playing alongside Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz for a short time.
“Some guys are talented in one [sport] so they have this prima donna or this, ‘I’m Chase Young so I don’t have to do that’ attitude,'” Jones said. “He never behaved that way. He played like he had something to prove. I knew I could count on Chase.”
Eventually, it was the football route that occupied Young, of course, and now fans in Washington have the chance to see him live out that dream over the next few years. However, in another life, things could have been quite different.
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