Dareke Young
Wide Receiver / Lenoir-Rhyne
Ed Hunt: What are your measurements? (Height, Weight and 40 time)
Dareke Young: I’m 6’3, weight is 210 pounds, and the spring before I ran a 4.49 40.
Ed Hunt: What has happened to your training due to the COVID-19?
Dareke Young: It involved a lot of in-home workouts. One of the QBs lives 15 minutes away from me and so we can train together. I do go to the weight room throughout the week.
Ed Hunt: What are the expectations for the Lenoir-Rhyne team in 2020?
Dareke Young: It’s simple for me. A SAC championship and a national championship. Nothing less.
Ed Hunt: What is the biggest strength of this Lenoir-Rhyne team in 2020?
Dareke Young: I would say we have a lot of key players coming back. Amari Houston, Eric Jackson to name a few.
Ed Hunt: What can you tell me about your former teammate Kyle Dugger?
Dareke Young: He was just a regular guy. He didn’t say he was any better than anyone else. He was just a normal guy. He and I had the same major, so I saw how he carried himself off the field which was great.
Ed Hunt: How does your 6’3 height help you?
Dareke Young: It just helps me win jump balls and with blocking. I had a growth spurt my junior year of high school.
Ed Hunt: What schools were interested in you out of high school?
Dareke Young: It was a few D-II schools. I had a preferred walk-on sport at North Carolina Central University. I also had Limestone, St. Aug, Lenoir-Rhyne, Charlotte University and UNC Pembroke.
Ed Hunt: What made you pick Lenoir-Rhyne out of high school?
Dareke Young: I only took two visits. The city (Hickory) was opposite from where I was from. It was a growing city and change is good. I didn’t see a lot of new fans being different from when we were losing and when we were winning. I met some of my professors on my visit. I felt like it was the right fit for me and my family.
Ed Hunt: What is your biggest sport outside of football?
Dareke Young: I would say basketball is my favorite to watch other than football. Track and football were the sports I played as I grew up.
Ed Hunt: What is your biggest accomplishment in that sport?
Dareke Young: My senior year in high school, I made it to regionals. I placed top five at regionals. I did 300-meter hurdles.
Ed Hunt: What are your strengths (on the football field)?
Dareke Young: I’m just a playmaker. I can make plays in the pass game and run game. I can block corners as well as linebackers. I’m not a one-dimensional player.
Ed Hunt: What are you working on the most?
Dareke Young: Trying to go 100% every play. That’s something I will be working on this year.
Ed Hunt: What was the highlight of your career?
Dareke Young: I would say my sophomore year when we beat Wingate off a flea flicker.
Ed Hunt: What is your biggest accomplishment in college?
Dareke Young: It was this past semester, I made straight A’s. That was my first time ever all the way from middle school.
Ed Hunt: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Dareke Young: From this coaching staff, I haven’t been around them too long. You have to work hard. Nobody is watching you.
Ed Hunt: What is your favorite NFL team?
Dareke Young: Atlanta Falcons.
Ed Hunt: Who is an NFL player you model your game after or watch tape on?
Dareke Young: The NFL player I feel I am most like is A.J. Brown. A player I strive to be like is Julio Jones. He can run any route in the route tree.
Ed Hunt: What is the most important trait for a wide receiver?
Dareke Young: I would just say confidence. If you don’t have confidence, then it will show.
Ed Hunt: Before the ball is snapped, what tendencies are you looking for in the defense?
Dareke Young: I’m looking how they are playing me on the outside. I look at the safety if they are playing a little bit behind.
Ed Hunt: What players from your team should we keep an eye on this year whether it would be seniors or underclassmen?
Dareke Young: Eric Jackson, Dan Louba, Deondre Lester, Grayson Willingham and Jace Jordan.
Ed Hunt: Who is the best player you have faced on an opposing team?
Dareke Young: I would say Desmond Fairell from Carson-Newman. And he’s a cornerback.
Ed Hunt: What do you enjoy most about football?
Dareke Young: It’s just something that takes my mind off everything. I made a lot of relationships playing this game. I have been playing since I was seven years old.
Ed Hunt: What makes you unique?
Dareke Young: I do lead by example, but I’m not a vocal leader. I do well in class, and I stay out of trouble. I am a model athlete. People should look to me in how I do things.
Ed Hunt: What are your hobbies?
Dareke Young: I’m a pretty laid-back guy. Two summers ago, I went hiking. I’d like to do that again. Really, I just like chilling with the guys.
Ed Hunt: What do you want to do with your life after your football career?
Dareke Young: I’m majoring in engineering physics. I would like to do automotive engineering or mechanical engineering in grad school, which are basically the same thing. I would like to help design cars.
Ed Hunt: What five words best describe you?
Dareke Young: Humble, leader, smart, athletic, and happy.