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Byron Young NFL Draft Scouting ReportEDGE, Tennessee Volunteers
Byron Young’s path to becoming an NFL prospect at an SEC program is a unique one. He began his career in the JUCO ranks before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2021 season. Young was an assistant manager at Dollar General before taking a JUCO tryout in 2019. He did not play football in 2020 due to COVID and the cancellation of the season. That said, his team still practiced and video of his practice highlights went viral, prompting offers from Georgia, LSU, Auburn, and Tennessee. The Volunteers offered him first and he chose them.
It didn’t take long for Young to be an impact defender for Tennessee—he has been a prominent playmaker for the Volunteers across his two seasons in Knoxville. He showcases good athleticism and outstanding flexibility. I really like his ability to change directions and how loose he is when getting to the edges of the blocks and cornering. There is a slipperiness to him when he’s able to soften angles and get around blocks. Young plays with a motor that is always cranked and makes his share of plays off of his hustle. His rush plan is built off a one-arm stab and flexibility and he does well to maximize his length. His ability to string together counters improved in 2022. While he lacks size and has room to get stronger, Young competes hard in the run game to maintain his run fit.
Young is still finding his way as a player. He needs to play quicker and develop his recognition skills. He is often tardy off the ball and he needs to clean up his footwork when releasing from his stance. There is wasted movement and false steps that take away from his ability to maximize his quickness. He has notable room to develop his hand usage, rush plan, and overall variety with technique. He is a bit of a short-stepper and can develop his footwork to expand his rush plan and complement his efforts with his hands. Young needs to continue adding functional strength to get stronger and be a more effective run defender when tasked with squeezing gaps and setting the edge. He will turn 25 in March of 2023.
Young has immediate appeal as a designated pass rusher and gap shooter in a rotational role. How he evolves in terms of functional strength and play speed will dictate if he’s a rotational piece or a prominent starter at the next level.
Top Reasons to Buy In:
Background and trajectory
Burst and flexibility
Competitive toughness
Top Reasons For Concern:
Mass and power
Age
Footwork as a pass rusher
Size (NFL Combine):
Height: 6′ 2”
Weight: 250 lbs
Arm Length: 32 1/2”
Hand Size: 9 1/4”
Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):
40-yard Dash: 4.43s
Vertical Jump: 38”
Broad Jump: 11′ 0”
Short-Shuttle: TBD
Three-Cone: 7.19s
Bench Reps: 22 reps
Ideal Role: Designated pass rusher/gap shooter
Scheme Fit: Rush linebacker, strongside end
Prospect Comparison: Jeremiah Attaochu (2014 NFL Draft)
TDN Consensus Grade: 75.00/100 (Third-Round Value)
Marino Grade: 75.00/100
Written By: Joe Marino
Exposures: Missouri (2021), Alabama (2021), Georgia (2021), Kentucky (2021), Florida (2022), Georgia (2022), Alabama (2022)
