Brugler:
TREVON YOUNG | Louisville 6037 | 258 lbs. | rSR. Des Moines, Iowa (Lincoln) 4/1/1995 (age 23.1) #91
BACKGROUND: A three-star defensive end recruit out of high school, Trevon Young starred in football and basketball at Lincoln, averaging 15.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per game on the hardcourt. On the football field, he posted 80 tackles at middle linebacker and 225 yards receiving at tight end as a senior, earning all- conference honors. He committed to Iowa to play football, but that offer was rescinded (and he was kicked off Lincoln’s basketball team) following multiple off-field incidents. Young enrolled at Iowa Western Community College for the 2013 season and reestablished himself as an attractive recruit, committing to Louisville over Iowa and Iowa State. He spent the 2014 season as a reserve, recording seven tackles and 1.0 sack. Young had a breakout junior season in 2015 (eight starts) with 32 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors. However, he suffered a serious injury in the bowl game, which sidelined him for the entire 2016 season, taking a redshirt. Young returned as a senior and started 12 games, finishing with 62 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
STRENGTHS: Prototypical frame, build and length for an edge rusher…owns the initial quickness to beat tackles from the jump…nimble bender, staying low in his pursuit of the corner…hips and feet stay in sync through the rush…extends his arms into blockers, using leverage and forward lean to get blockers moving in reverse…comfortable on his feet as a high school linebacker and will occasionally drop on tape or blitz from various angles…sees through blockers to cut off outside runs…battled back from a serious injury and won the 2017 Brian Piccolo Award, which is awarded to the “most courageous” football player in the ACC…graduated with a degree in communications (May 2017)…experienced as a stand-up linebacker in a 3-4 and defensive end in a 4-3 scheme…productive career with 24.0 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks in 20 starts.
WEAKNESSES: Suffered a dislocated and fractured left hip (Dec. 2015), requiring immediate surgery and a 12-month rehab schedule – went under the knife a second time (July 2016) after a minor setback…didn’t show the same explosive movements post-injury and spent much of the 2017 season getting his feet back underneath him…frequently mistimes his initial snap movements, jumping early or late…predictable spin move…late hands and can be controlled in the run game, allowing blockers to get into his frame and move him…inconsistent break down skills in space, leading to missed tackles…other medical concerns include surgery to repair a bulging disk in his back (Jan. 2015)…immature background nearly cost him his scholarship – arrested and charged with criminal trespass (Dec. 2012); arrested and charged with third-degree burglary (July 2012).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Louisville, Young put his name on the NFL radar in 2015 as a junior outside linebacker in the Cardinals’ 3-4 scheme prior to his career-threatening hip injury. He returned to the field in 2017 and played defensive end in Louisville’s four-man front, rushing from both a two- and three-point stance. Young showed steady improvement throughout his senior season as he worked back to football shape, but didn’t flash the same arc explosiveness or overall effectiveness. He is a smart run defender with his read/react ability, but needs to improve his take-on skills to keep himself free. Overall, Young looked like an early round draft pick before his hip injury sidetracked his career, but the post-injury version of Young still has enough traits to carve out a rotational pass-rushing role in the NFL – if the medical staff signs off.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round
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