Vince Young, Returning To Finish His Degree, Challenges Texans To Go To College (Watch)

By Tim Taliaferro in Blog on May 18, 2011 at 11:50 am | 10 Comments

Meet NFL Quarterback Vince Young from Generation TX on Vimeo.

Favored son Vince Young has returned to Texas and to UT to finish his degree in education.

In a new video released today by Generation TX, an effort started last year by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to encourage students to pursue college, the former Longhorn QB says that when growing up on the south side of Houston, he didn’t think he’d ever get to go to college.

“I didn’t think that academic-wise I was smart enough, that I could keep up with other students,” Young says. “But when I set my mind to it, with the strong supporting cast I had with my family members, it pushed me to be the man that I am today.”

Young says that growing up he was told he would drop out and become a druggie. Instead, though, Young repeated ninth grade in night school, so he could get caught up and improve his grades. He ended up graduating from Madison High School and enrolling at Texas.

The experience taught him a lesson, he says, and at UT the standout football player says he made the academic honor roll.

The Vince Young Foundation and Generation TX strive to “inspire and engage [the] youth of Texas to become the most successful generation ever.”

The groups are partnering to host a “Unity in the Community” summit in Houston this weekend.

Young played at Texas from 2002-2005, leading the Horns to the 2004 Rose Bowl victory and the 2005 win over USC for the National Championship.

He left Texas to join the NFL and played for the Tennessee Titans until leaving the team at the end of last season.

Young is also a Life Member of the Texas Exes.

Photo courtesy Generation TX