Marcell Young still gets a charge out of football.
Going into his sixth CFL season, Young is starting his fourth season as a defensive half for the Edmonton Eskimos.
At 28, he jokes that he’s surprised he’s been able to play pro football this long.
So, he’s doing something about it. Once this season is over, Young will complete a semester to become a fully-certified electrician.
For now, though, Young has been thrust into a leadership role in a rebuilt secondary with the unit’s other returner, Pat Watkins.
He’s found a home in Edmonton. Even though he started out his CFL career in Hamilton, he decided this was the place he wanted to stay.
“I had a chance to go into free agency after the 2014 season, but I wanted to be here,” Young said. “I wanted to make this work. We got so close that year against Calgary in the West Final, I wanted to come back and get this organization, this team, this city another chance at it (Grey Cup). I enjoy myself here, I enjoy my teammates and the coaches. Upper management had a good deal of faith in me to bring me back and I’m glad to be back here, man. I never knew I’d be playing football this long. Still here, still plugging along.”
An Achilles injury to John Ojo has left it up to the returners to show the newer guys the ropes.
“I try to lead by example, but this year I have to be more vocal because there’s new guys that’s not only just new to the team but new to the CFL,” said Young. “It takes a great deal of responsibility from the veteran guys. Not just me, but Pat Watkins. Ojo was doing a great job, so all of us pitch in just as much as possible to see the back end grow.”
During the early part of his career, Young spent plenty of time coaching kids about the game that’s given him a living.
Then, time came where he had to think of his own future and formalize a childhood dream.
His uncle, John Morrow, is an electrician and Young figured getting a ticket in a trade would also be a good way to go once his playing days were done.
“It’s something I always wanted to do, to be an electrician, a handy man,” Young said. “It’s something that I’d like to have in my back pocket. It’s just something I wanted to get certified in, something I can do for fun.
“My goal was always to be an electrician and live a simple life in Mississippi. My uncle has been an electrician for years. I talked to him (recently) and he needed to use some of my tools. I told him, when I’m through, I’m going to need help getting a job. He said ‘you can have mine because I’m getting ready to retire in about five years’ and that’s about how long I’ve got left playing.
“Football has paid a way for me to have a little bit of money to invest in myself in my electrician business,” said Young. “Enough to take care of myself and my family. It’s always been intriguing to me ever since I was a child.”
“My teammates say ‘when I get my house built, I’m going to need for you to wire it up,’ ” said Young. “I just say I got ya. Just give us a good contractor and I can got to work.”