Waterville, Maine - At the conclusion of the seventh and final round of Saturday's NFL draft, it took only moments for Colby's star linebacker's phone to ring.  On the other end was Baltimore Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta '93 to extend a rookie minicamp tryout invitation to Julian Young.  

Watch the call here. 

Joining Young in the football suite of the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center were his Colby teammates and coaches. "The first people I shared my moment with were actually my teammates, coaches, and staff that had all come to be with me," said Young. "After that I talked to my parents and little brother Jayden who were on FaceTime during the call. I have a really strong support system made up of family, friends, coaches and mentors, so sharing that moment with all of them really made it special for me." 

It is common for NFL teams to have an extended list of players they want to pounce on the moment the draft ends.  Teams are limited with their picks throughout the seven rounds of the draft, but anyone who caught their eye who goes undrafted is fair game. While its uncommon for a Division III player to get drafted or even invited to a combine in the pre-draft process, the Ravens scouts had a chance to see Young in person when he attended a "Pro Day" at UMaine Orono earlier this spring. DeCosta wasted little time making sure the Ravens get another chance to see Young up close. In terms of the minicamp itinerary, Friday Young catches a train from his home in New Jersey to Baltimore, Saturday is check-in and physicals, and Sunday and Monday the players take to the field to show what they can do. 

As a four-year starter at linebacker for Colby, Young sits third on the all time list for career tackles, with just under 300 in 35 games. He earned All-NESCAC First Team accolades three times, led the conference in tackles as a junior, and finished second in two other seasons.  The only game he missed throughout his career was due to a broken hand, an injury he returned from the following week with a cast suited for the destructive style of play Young was known for. 

"Julian trains hard, practices hard, and has become an outstanding student of the game," said Jack Cosgrove, the Dick McGee Head Coach for Colby Football. "He holds himself to high standards on a consistent basis, and he is relentless in his pursuit of excellence. His competitiveness stands out in practice and we constantly see the results of all of that coming together each and every game day. We are very excited that people away from Mayflower Hill and the NESCAC get to see what Julian is capable of."

While there are many ways this story can end, from getting signed or invited for further camps to even being told "sorry, no," Young is grateful for the opportunity and maintains his laser focus that has never wavered in his pursuit of his dreams. "At first I was nervous because this is a huge moment in my life, but now I just feel blessed, hungry, and ready," reflected Young. "What kept me focused throughout my time at Colby was a bit of a chip on my shoulder, coming out of high school and getting looked over to end up in Division III. I've had to fight for every opportunity, and it's been a constant source of motivation.  My parents set a great example for me through hard work and sacrifice, and they showed me what it means to earn everything you have in life." 

Whichever way the chips fall for Young, his focus immediately after the camp is to return to Maine to finish his eighth and final semester for graduation. After that, there is no doubt his eyes will be back on his pursuit of making an NFL roster. "Even though this is an incredible opportunity, it's only the beginning of my dream and I know it's far from over."