Young Follows His Heart to Cal

5-10/160 Corona Centennial cornerback Isaiah Young has had the Bears on his mind for a while and today on Easter Sunday, the talented DB made the decision to seal the deal and commit to Cal.

“Cal has opportunities that no other school has for me,” said Young. “I was extremely comfortable when I visited and I loved the area that the school is in.

“I'm excited about my decision and can't wait to see what God has in store for me.”

As a junior in 2018, Young had 29 tackles, one interception returned for a touchdown, nine passes defended and two tackles for loss for perennial California power Corona Centennial, who finished 12-1 in 2018 after falling to eventual state champ, Mater Dei.

The commitment was particulary special for Young considering the importance to Young’s father of a good education and career for his son following football

“My father is the hardest working man that i know and the things that he does for my family are priceless,” said Young. “He deserves to live a life with no stress because of all that he has done for for my family and me, so that’s my goal, to one day reward him and rid all of his burdens off his shoulders.”

Young had the chance to visit campus on Junior Day in February and the visit made a big impression on the talented DB.

“When I went up to Cal, I loved Berkeley and the area it’s in,” said Young. “It’s a great place.”

Now that he’s formally committed to the Bears, Young can go to work in earnest to help build a talent class around him -starting with the SoCal region.

“(QB) CJ Stroud, (RB) Chris Street, (WR) Gary Bryant -those are guys I’m trying to bring with me if I do come to Cal,” said Young Friday before his commitment. “We talk all the time about it. We’d be good. That’s what I’m hoping.”

Young’s main point of contact at Cal has been defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander.

“Coach Alexander -man, I really enjoy talking to him,” said Young. “He’s a real, down-to-earth coach. Every time I talk to him, it’s just real comfortable. The conversation’s not always super formal, just relaxed.”

An excellent student, Young also holds an offer from Princeton, as well. His commitment fits his stated goal of playing in a program that will prepare him for his future after football in a tangible way.

“Honestly, first I want to go to a school where life after football is more important than football itself,” said Young on Friday. “I want to go to a place where they’ll prepare me to be a good businessman and adult. To go along with that, the opportunity to play early and be on a winning team.”