A number of former Tennessee football players are having solid starts to their professional careers. Darnell Wright has started every game for the Chicago Bears and Jalin Hyatt has flashed his big play ability on a struggling New York Giants’ offense.
But no former Vol is having a better rookie season than Los Angeles Rams EDGE rusher Byron Young. The Rams selected the former Tennessee standout with the 77th pick (third round) of last May’s draft and the move has quickly paid dividends.
Young is second on the Rams with five sacks through nine games along with two more tackles for loss and 39 total tackles. Only all-time great NFL defensive lineman Aaron Donald has more sacks (5.5) than Young on the Rams this season.
The Georgetown, South Carolina native ranks 15th in the NFL and first amongst rookies in QB hits so far this season and the defensive end is only getting better as the season progresses.
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Young had his best game of the season last week with 10 tackles, two sacks and one tackle for loss in the Rams loss against Green Bay.
0️⃣ got that dawg in him. pic.twitter.com/9MCfm0JB60
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 8, 2023
Tennessee landed Young as a junior college prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. Young played two seasons for Josh Heupel and his staff where he totaled 83 tackles and 12.5 sacks for two loss.
Young led Tennessee in sacks both seasons he was in Knoxville and became a third round pick due to his strong play.
One Response
In the next two games, Coach Heupel must dominate on both sides of the ball. This year, so far, we have not surprised anyone on Offense. Sadly enough we don’t ever change our approach in the middle of the stream when we are drowning and certain plays just aren’t working. Saban is such a great Coach because when plays are not working he adjusts his game plan using other options that change the game. UT has lost many games over the past 15 years because we are not creative enough. Heupel must override the OC when things are not working. The whole program is riding on the next TWO games.