Louis Young makes a decision

Rivals250 cornerback Louis Young made a decision on Saturday. After committing back in the fall, the 6-foot-0, 185-pound cornerback reconfirmed his pledge to Stanford.

"I committed on Saturday to Stanford," he said. "I had been up there for three days since Thursday and basically I made my decision to play for Stanford University.

"The coaches were very surprised. They didn't expect it. I didn't expect to make a commitment either. On Mother's Day I talked to my mom and I went to go see it for myself and it was the perfect fit for me."

According to Young himself, Stanford made up ground over the weekend.

"When I opened my recruitment back up, the main thing I thought was that Coach Harbaugh would leave if he got an NFL job because he could get one," he said. "Going into this visit I had a top four of No. 1 Virginia Tech, No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Wake Forest and No. 4 Illinois. This visit just took me away. My dad and I talked in Coach Harbaugh's office and he said he's not going anywhere. He then said I want to coach your son to my dad and compete for a Pac-10 championship.

"I know a lot of people felt I was going to commit to Virginia Tech. I really thought I was going to do that after my cousin committed there, but I wanted to see something different and when I talked to my mom on Mother's Day. I really thought I needed to do something that my family hasn't done, gone to college and get a degree from a prestigious school like Stanford."

Young went further about his selection.

"I'd probably say the whole visit impressed me," he said. "There is so much historic value there and the coaches. They went over the defensive schemes. I know it's somewhere I can benefit from and help turn things around.

"I know my dad wanted me at that school, but he just wanted me to go see it for myself. And to me it just feels right."

How much was education a factor in his choice?

"I got to tour the school and went to the classrooms with the students," he said. "It just seemed like the professors there were down-to-earth and eager to help their students. They will help you succeed and won't let you fail there. They're going to make sure you're going to get that degree. It was a factor."

Meanwhile, what about playing time?

"That definitely made me gravitate more," he said. "They have corners leaving and once I get there I'll be able to compete and I can do something early and play as early as a true freshman. I can play on a big stage against USC, Cal and Oregon. In the Pac-10 it doesn't get better than that."

Young did have a visit scheduled to Virginia Tech later this month. Is it fair to say Young is solid in his pledge?

"Coach Hite from Virginia Tech more than likely will visit the school this week," he said. "Something crazy would have to happen for me not to stay with my commitment. My official is solid and it's a strong verbal. I am very solid.

"I plan to return to Stanford in mid-June. I'm going with my teammate Troy Gloster. I'm recruiting him now because I know he's interested."

The four-star prospect is now celebrating that the process is over.

"I'm going to celebrate tonight and everyone in my family is excited," he said. "The choice brought tears to my mom's eyes. They were good tears. She was happy about it. It's a real positive situation for me.

"My goal has always been to be a leader. My dad pushed me to succeed when he put me in and all boys school in eighth grade to prepare me for Good Counsel. I was in public schools in DC. The atmosphere at Good Counsel has prepared me for college and I feel that success can keep happening if I go there."