INDIANOLA, Iowa — Demarico Young leads Simpson College in rushing yards as a true freshman. The fact that he's deaf is just one of many hurdles that he's jumped over to get to this point.
“I've always believed that I can do anything but hear, deaf can do everything," Young said. "I can communicate as long as I have access. I find another way if my interpreter is not there through texting or writing. As long as I have communication, I've always believed I can do anything.”
His journey to college football started long ago with a big risk. Young and his family left the Louisiana School for the Deaf when he was in middle school so he could pursue football. The family moved to Sioux City where he attended South Sioux High School. The problem? None of the interpreters could understand Young's dialect of American Sign Language.
Because no one could understand him, he was labeled deaf and special needs.
"I didn't understand them, they didn't understand me. My GPA was like a 1.3, it was no good. And then Ms. Dawn Habhab, my interpreter, came to visit me and finally I had a language match."
After months of not being able to communicate, Young finally met someone who could understand him.
"I met him, he was extremely down and appeared broken," Habhab said. "We just had a little chat, and he (said), 'I'm an athlete. They don't understand me. They won't let me play. I am a good student, but I'm failing everything."'
Shortly after meeting, Habhab discovered just how difficult Young's life outside school had been.
"It wasn't until probably the end of my first week of work with him that he looked at me and said, 'do hearing people just live in cars?' And I was like, 'no.' He goes, 'that's not normal?'"
Young and his family were homeless and the school had no idea.
Habhab got help from the community and helped the Young family find a place to live along with food and furniture.
Now that Young was heard, it was time to finally reach his goal of being an athlete.
"He had a PE class and they were running flying 10s in the dome at South Sioux, and he ran a 0.88 flying 10," Habhab said. "The teachers looked and went, 'can he do that again?' Because they're thinking the transponder might have been off. And I said, 'they want you to do it again.' He goes, 'okay.' 0.88.”
Young ran the fastest time in the class and was encouraged to go out for the track team in spring of his freshman year. The coaches were blown away by the kid that was a water boy in the fall.
He got his shot on the football team his sophomore year, and he led the Cardinals in rushing that season. Young then transferred to Sioux City North as a junior where he led the Stars in rushing as well.
His football career continued to excel, but the biggest accomplishment of his senior year came as he walked across the stage.
"To see him take every opportunity, knowing that he has support, and excelling to the highest level he possibly can, and then thinking he can go even further and succeeding, it is miraculous," Habhab said.
Young never stopped believing.
“I always look at barriers like they're hurdles, and I jump those hurdles and break the rules so that people behind me who are deaf will be able to look up to me and not have the struggles I did. And they'll be able to succeed as well.”
In part two of "The Sound of Football," which will air in Local 5's Thursday 10 p.m. newscast, there will be more on how Young is adjusting to college on and off the field. Plus, learn more about his foundation that's paving the way for the deaf community.