Alabama football defensive lineman Byron Young was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round and thr 70th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Laurel, Mississippi, native spent four seasons with the Crimson Tide with 139 tackles, 22.5 for loss, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 54 games.
Young was a first team All-SEC selection and second team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association last season.
Here’s what the Raiders are getting in Young.
MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALLMississippi State football’s Emmanuel Forbes: Washington Commanders not worried by weight
EMMANUEL FORBESPros and cons of Washington Commanders taking Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes in 2023 NFL Draft
The positives
Young was a a huge part of Alabama’s defense last season and finished with a career-high 47 tackles along with five tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
The 6-foot-3, 292-pound Young takes on blocks and is aggressive in the run game, along with great recognition at the line of scrimmage. He’s also shown a consistent ability to get into the backfield with 14.5 tackles for loss in the past two seasons.
The concerns
Young has to be productive in the running game because he wasn’t an elite pass rusher. Young had two sacks through his first two seasons with Alabama. That improved to a career-high 3.5 sacks last season.
It’s imperative that Young adds to his pass rushing technique to become more of a factor against pass-heavy offenses in the NFL.
OLE MISS FOOTBALLUnpacking NFL Draft projections for Ole Miss football players, including Jonathan Mingo
OLE MISS FOOTBALLFormer Ole Miss football safety CJ Moore of Detroit Lions suspended for NFL betting
Final thoughts
Young has the strength and ability to be a solid run defender in the NFL. His can create pressure as a pass rusher but needs to do more to get on the field in obvious passing situations.
