Colonie's Shai Young Signs NLI For Bryant University Football

Shai Young Signs His National Letter Of Intent As Family And Coaches Watch on December 19th, 2018 at Powerhouse Athletics. Photos By: Dylan Friebel

DYLAN FRIEBEL - COLONIE, NY

Shai Young signed his National Letter of Intent Wednesday Night at Powerhouse Athletics in front of Friends and Family to play Football at the University of Bryant.

Shai has been a four year starter at Colonie High School on the gridiron, while also starting on the Basketball team and running Outdoor track.

“Playing three sports for sure helped me in football.” He said. “With running track it helps with my endurance and speed and basketball helps with my lateral quickness.”

Despite being a four year starter it was not without his share of adversity. Shai played a total of six games his sophomore and junior year. During some of those times it seemed as if the Division I goals was out of reach, however he never gave up.

“There were times, especially the second time it happened.” he said. “But i never gave up, even when i thought i was going to have to take a longer and harder road to get to where i am. Bryant believed in me though and when they offered me i did not think it was real, i kept asking my mom and dad ‘Did they really just say that?’. When we decided to commit, we all sat in my house and it was surreal.”

While Shai has had his dad on the sidelines for his whole highschool career, it's going to be different in college.

“He coached me a little different than everyone else.” he said. “He yelled at me more and got on me more. It’s going to be different not having him on the sidelines but i'm sure after every game he is going to call me and tell what i did wrong or improve on.”

His dad Gabe Young was a Albany Metro Mallers for years and Coached at both Shaker and Colonie High.

“Seeing him grow as an athlete has been fun.” Gabe said. “Have two injuries back to back year and missing the time. He never once had any doubt though and just worked and never complained. I might of been saying can he do this but he never said and the mental part is where he is really strong. He played multiple sports and is able to recover so fast and i encourage all kids to be multi sport athletes.”

His coach Eric Rouleau had high praise for the Quarterback as well.

“Shai has grown tremendously as a person and as a player.” he said. “He started as a freshman in the weight room and ended as a senior in the weight room, and that's where his success started. He’s a leader by example, when he workouts you want to do what he is doing. He's always doing the right thing whether it's on the field, in the weight room, or in class. He has a work ethic and drive that can't be matched and he will do just fine out there and i can not wait to go out there and watch him.”

Wednesday night in Colonie will forever be remembered for the Young family and everyone who attended, I’m lucky to be one of the ones who did. Nothing but smiles, hugs, and happiness for the kid that i was playing catch with my junior year at practice as the manager to now a Division College Football Student Athlete, Congrats Shai! #GoDawgs.