Devin Young played professional football while he was a law student.
By Stephanie Strong
ORLANDO, Fla – Devin Young is super excited about graduating from the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law. The New Brunswick, New Jersey, native already has a job lined up in the legal field and is preparing for the Florida Bar Exam.
While graduating from law school is a major accomplishment, it is rare to attend law school while playing professional sports. As Young was studying the law, he also studied the football playbook for Team American, a franchise in the Global Games International Football League.
“I’ve played internationally the entire time I have attended FAMU College of Law. I played in Cancun, Costa Rica, Toronto, Miami and Kissimmee,” said Young, who was among the more than 100 law school graduates who participated in the commencement ceremony in Orlando on Monday, May 10. “My hard work on the football field paid off when I was awarded three defensive Most Valuable Player trophies for games in Miami, Orlando and Costa Rica.”
Football runs in Young’s genes. Growing up, he watched his cousin, Wali Lundy, play running back in the NFL for the Houston Texans. Young has played football since the age of seven. He was born in New Brunswick but later moved to South Brunswick, where he played football throughout high school. He went on to play at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.
While football is challenging and requires intense physical training, Young did not miss a beat when it came to preparing for a legal career. He explored several experiential learning opportunities prior to and during law school.
“I have significant pre-law school experience with the State of New Jersey’s Office of Legislative Services. I am a public servant at heart,” Young said. “I developed my desire to serve the public when I worked for Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District.”
During law school, Young gained legal experience with the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He also interned at Skyers Law with FAMU Law alumna Karen Skyers.
Young recently accepted a position with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit as an assistant state attorney under State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
When comparing his love for football and the law, Young gives the edge to law.
“It’s because of the laws and freedoms of this country I have the privilege to play football,” said Young.
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