Player gets high marks on field, in class By Cory Golden Staff Reporter Nebraska center Jake Young earns high marks on the football field, and carries them ever to the classroom. Young, an All-America selection who has a 3.38 grade point aver age in finance, said there is more to life than foot ball. He said al though he places football high on his .list of priori ties, grades are mote important Young That s the main reason you come to school," Young said, "academics and then football. Young said he likes to excel in the classroom. He said the stereotype of huge, moronic football players isn’t a valid one. Young cited former Husker safety Maik Blazek, who won the National Football Foundation/Hall of Fame post-graduate scholarship as a senior last season. He also cited quarterback GerryGdowskitwhohasa3.7 grade point average in business administra tion. “Most everybody does well in the classroom," Young said. “Being an athlete, you have to keep at least a 2.0 to play, so there’s more pressure to do well." Young’s accomplishments don’t end in the classroom. He could be come the third center to play for Coach Tom Osborne to be a two-time All-America selection, and is a legiti mate candidate for the Lombardi award, which is presented annually to college football’s best lineman. Young said he isn’t worried about individual honors. “I just want the team to win the Big Eight,” he said. Young, who was recruited by the Huskers as an all-state offensive guard from Midland, Texas, has overcome obstacles en route to be coming one of the finest linemen in school history. Less than a week after arriving on campus, he began practicing with the varsity. He saw playing time as a reserve guard during his first year and was the first true freshman offensive lineman to earn a letter since fresh man eligibility was restored in 1972. Young moved from guard to cen ter in the spring of his freshman year, and faced the first in a line of injuries. He broke his leg and was forced to sit out most of spnng practice. After recovering, Young returned and earned second-team All-Big Eight honors. He became the first true sophomore to start on the line since two-time All-America selection Rik Bonness in 1973. Young’s junior year, he suffered a knee strain three days before the Kickoff Classic against Texas A&M, but took over the starting role in the Huskers’ third game against UCLA. Last year, Young became the ninth Nebraska center to earn All America honors. . Young said he enjoys his life in the trenches. “You kina ot roil witn tnc punches,” he said. “You have to do your job, and everyone else has to do their job, if the loam is going to be successful.” Success for the team is what Young wants, not individual acco a