STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Jabari Reddock and
Gregory Young II grew up 15 minutes apart, not far from the nation's capital. Now, the Maryland neighbors are expected to be major contributors at cornerback for the Stony Brook football team.
With All-CAA football honoree
Gavin Heslop's graduation and free-agent deal with the Seahawks and captain
TJ Morrison's shift to free safety, Reddock and Young will have opportunities to earn the starting assignments for the Seawolves when the team is able to reassemble.
Reddock, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound redshirt junior from Upper Marlboro, Md., appeared in all 12 games for the Seawolves and had 15 total tackles (14 solo) last season.
Young, a 5-10, 180-pound redshirt sophomore from nearby Clinton, Md., played in 11 games. He made four starts, including the final three games of the year at free safety. He recorded 31 total tackles (21 solo) and had his first career interception in a last-second win at fifth-ranked Villanova.
Both Marylanders earned spot on the Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
"I knew of Jabari in high school because we had 7-on-7 (games). He was a running back at the time. And he was talented," Young recalled. "So I always knew of Jabari. I saw him commit to Stony Brook when I was a junior. Once I saw that he committed, it impacted me in the back of my mind. I didn't really get to talk to him until I got to Stony Brook."
Back in the fall of 2017, with Reddock already at Stony Brook and Young a prep senior, the high schools did meet on the field. Young's Suitland High School squad routed Reddock's alma mater, Largo, 54-7. Young had one catch for 15 yards and also an interception in the lopsided victory.
The Stony Brook tandem never actually faced off in an official regular-season game in high school, though, despite the schools being separated by only 7.8 miles. The schools had not played each other since 2005 until that meeting three years ago. Largo had been in Class 2A while Reddock attended the school and since has moved to 1A, while Suitland has competed in 4A.
Since becoming teammates at Stony Brook, Reddock and Young frequently had worked out together during offseasons. But that was more recently halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As for their starting opportunities at cornerback during the upcoming season with Heslop's graduation and Morrison's position move, both Marylanders know nothing will be handed to them — even if they may have the inside tracks.
"Gavin definitely left a mark," Reddock said. "I learned from his abilities film-wise and in the game — learning how to know the field better. I know the position is not given to us. I have to work for it."
Said Young: "Even though he's moving to free safety, TJ did a good job for two years starting at corner. It's not an easy spot just to come in and basically take over. He set a standard. I have to show that I belong there."
Reddock impressed himself with his ability to "survive" last season. He overcame a pair of 2018 surgeries — to address a sports hernia that summer and then a hip impingement in November.
"Overcoming that adversity and playing and loving the game more and more, I'd say last season was remarkable for me," he said.
For Young, who redshirted in 2018, he was pleased with last year's first college season seeing action.
"Being able to contribute to wins was a big highlight for me last year," he said.
The teammates admire each other's skills at cornerback and mentalities.
"I admire how G.Y. carries himself," Reddock said. "He knows about the game. He always wants to learn. Let's say he doesn't know a play, he's going to come right to you and ask you how to do it. I love that he wants to know what to do. His work ethic is like that."
Said Young: "I love Jabari's mentality. If you tell him to do it, he's going to do it 1,000 miles per hour. No second questions about it. And, say, he doesn't have a drill down today. He's going to keep working at it. He's going to keep going at it until he masters it. He's got a dawg mentality. He's always willing to work."
