Jesse Smithey

Shopper News columnist

The cheers leave for younger players.

The autograph requests all but vanish.

The spotlight redirects elsewhere.

Life after college football can be an overwhelming reality to some, especially those who played in high-profile conferences where they’re treated like celebrities.

But when that rock-star reality dissipates, a harsh and eye-opening one can often await.

Devrin Young lives that reality now and seems to be adjusting well. Once the brightest star on the Knoxville prep football scene, Young went on to play at the University of Tennessee and ultimately found a niche as a return specialist.

And while his playing days at Tennessee didn't parlay into an NFL career, the 24-year-old continues searching for new outlets in which to use his physical skill set; he knows a dangerous trap awaits those who can’t adjust to a world that isn’t football-centric.

“I’ve been playing tackle football since I was 5 years old,” said Young, who played at Tennessee from 2011-14. “Once I started feeling indifferently toward wanting to continue football, I had to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and put my ego aside and accept that things didn’t fully go my way.”

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Young is way out of his comfort zone.

He’s playing rugby, and not just for hobby. Apparently, he’s pretty good at it.

After just 11 months in the sport, Young has progressed enough to relocate to Denver, where he hopes to clear a path to the national team like two of his teammates have.

Physical therapist Mick Larrabee of Optimal Performance long suggested the transition from football to rugby, Young said. The two have known each other since Young played at Bearden High School.

When a stint with the Canadian Football League didn’t pan out, Young took Larrabee up on that suggestion. He began playing for the Knoxville Possums in mid-2016, showed well at a Las Vegas tournament this past spring and received an invite out to Denver.

He’s been there for about a month now, playing for the Denver Barbarians’ premier team. Young plays a seven-man brand of rugby that showcases speed.

Researching the game on YouTube films and learning from Knoxville Possums players expedited his ascension in the sport, Young said.

At first, Young's leap into rugby sounds crazy. He's been synonymous with football for quite some time.

But when you recall his ability with a football, the move doesn't sound so far-fetched. He rushed for 2,271 yards and 32 touchdowns on 228 carries as a senior at Bearden in 2010.

At Tennessee, he ranks fourth in program history in total kickoff returns yards with 1,534 behind Willie Gault (1,854), Leonard Scott (1,788) and Evan Berry (1,677).

Just keep in mind that his goal is no longer to reach the end zone; rather, rugby has a “try zone.”

Still, it all comes back to Young's agility and versatility with his legs and feet.

Hey, life after football doesn't have to be a complete 180.

“They use my speed to the fullest extent,” said Young of his new coaches. “This is a full-contact, full-speed game. You got two halves, seven minutes each, of just nonstop running. So the ability to cut and run is huge. And you also get to play defense, so I get to tackle, as well.

“This is a game for athletes. And usually the best athlete wins.”