Austin, Texas – The pace of champagne being poured at the University of Texas undoubtedly slowed Sunday after junior quarterback Vince Young announced he is skipping his final year with the Longhorns to make himself eligible for the NFL draft.
“I know everyone’s behind me, and I thank you all for that, and I love you all for that, and I will not let you all down,” Young said at a news conference on campus. “I’m going to be a hard worker and do what it takes to be a role model and to make it to the Hall of Fame.”
Four days after helping deliver the first football national title to Texas in 36 years, Young said his decision to turn pro wasn’t made until after the Rose Bowl. He posted a Rose Bowl-record 467 yards of total offense in leading a 41-38 comeback against USC.
After that win, Young said he felt like he had accomplished everything he wanted to in college. He said his uncles did some homework about what NFL teams thought of him.
“Basically, a lot of teams were saying some good things about me,” Young said. “I felt like I learned a lot of things in college and felt like I was ready to move on to the next level. … The whole entire season, I was planning on coming back with my teammates. But the level I’m on right now is a one-time thing, so I’m going to take a jump at it right now, while I can.”
Young’s mother, Felicia, like most Texas fans, wanted her son to return to Texas for his final year of eligibility. He is one semester short of a liberal arts degree.
“He’s promised me he’ll finish off his degree, so I have to support him,” she said.
Young said he met with Texas coach Mack Brown on Sunday morning in Austin after he traveled from Houston with his mother, two sisters, his uncles and his pastor.
“We are in full support of Vince’s decision,” Brown said in a statement from Dallas, where he’s attending the American Football Coaches Association convention.
“We love Vince and appreciate all the great things he’s done for the University of Texas,” Brown added. “We have 15 starters back next year, and our expectations today remain the same as before Vince’s decision. We are defending champions and will move forward.”
The quarterback who starts in the Longhorns’ season opener Sept. 2 for the defending national champions against North Texas will have never taken a college snap.
Colt McCoy, a redshirt freshman, and two incoming freshmen – Jevan Snead of Stephenville, Texas, and Sherrod Harris of Arlington (Texas) Bowie – are considered the front-runners.
Young indicated he would hire Bus Cook as one of his agents. Cook is the agent for Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, Young’s mentor and close friend, and for Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
Young said he had no idea where he would be picked, adding that it would be great to play for his hometown Houston Texans, who have the first selection. When asked whether he wanted to play with McNair and the Titans, who have the third pick, Young said he didn’t care which team picked him.
“Whoever picks me is going to see a whole other side of a quarterback,” Young said, referring to all the physical (running and passing) talent and intangibles he brings to a team.
