HomeTeam 100 spotlight: Jesuit's Jordan Young a born performer
Did you know the talented cornerback, once known as "Lil Brus," was something of a rap prodigy as a youngster?
Jesuit's Jordan Young (SCOTT PURKS | Special to the Times)
By Scott Purks
TAMPA — If you Google "Lil Brus" you will find Jesuit's Jordan Young — shorter, skinnier and younger.
He's wearing cool shades and red shoes, and stepping out of a limousine in a video.
At one point his mom will tell his dad, "Lil Brus has a photo shoot at 2 and he has to be at the studio at 4."
Outside the room, fans cry, "Lil Brus! Lil Brus!"
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Lil Brus tells the security guard to let in the fans, who receive "Lil Brus" T-shirts.
The next thing you know, Lil Brus is rapping in front of hundreds.
"See the whole crowd rockin,' they be goin' crazay, I do this cuz I love this not because they pay me. But I can't forget that I'm still my mama's baby, so when report cards come I bringin' straight As. … All the people lovin' me, they can't get enough of me, all the people lovin' me, they can't get enough of me, all the people …"
About that time Michael Vick shows up next to 8-year-old Lil Brus and the two groove …
"All the people lovin' me, they can't get enough of me, all the people …"
Seven years later, Jordan Young sits in the Jesuit locker room, looking back on Lil Brus, which he said is a play on the endearment "Little Bro," and says, "It got a little crazy for a while."
There were tour buses and a performance for Oprah Winfrey at her Boys and Girls Club in Mississippi, and guest appearances at stops with the likes of astronaut Alvin Drew and other performances at colleges in front of thousands.
Young said he doesn't advertise it because it's way in his rear-view mirror, and he only mentioned it this time after being asked if he had any outside interests like playing a musical instrument.
Young said he stopped singing at 12 to focus more on football, and at this point, "I can't even imagine what it would feel like to sing in front of thousands of people. I didn't think about it when I was so little (beginning about age 5). I had no fear back then."
Young's dad, Arthur, said it started when Jordan expressed an interest in starting an anti-bullying campaign and began putting his feelings to words and music, which came naturally to Jordan.
"He wrote the songs himself," Arthur Young said. "He just had this talent for it."
A community activist for much of his life, Arthur Young said he saw an opportunity to spread a positive message through his son, aka Lil Brus, who gave anti-bullying speeches at his performances.
Jordan Young, now a muscled-up 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior cornerback, shrugs and grins.
"It was fun," Young said. "But things move on. The focus went to education and playing football."
Both are going exceedingly well.
Young — the cousin of 2016 Jesuit grad Travell Harris, starring at Washington State — has already been offered scholarships from Alabama, Florida and Florida State to name a few.
"But no decisions yet," said Young, who wants to pursue a law degree. "There is time. Plenty of time."
One day, though, he says he definitely wants to perform again, this time in front of thousands, if not millions.
"On a football field," Young said. "Making plays …"
"All the people, lovin' me, they can't get enough of me, all the people lovin' me, they can't get enough of me ..."
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