Los Angeles Rams select Byron Young in third round of NFL Draft

Byron Young became the fourth Tennessee player selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft Friday night in Kansas City when he was taken at No. 77 overall by the Los Angeles Rams. He followed quarterback Hendon Hooker (No. 68, Detroit Lions) and wide receivers Jalin Hyatt (No. 73, New York Giants) and Cedric Tillman (No. 74, Cleveland Browns).

The Vols’ leader in sacks in 2022 is 24 years old, he’s the youngest of 13. He has eight brothers and four sisters. His oldest sibling is 47. 

Young has a great back story. Two years out of high school, he was working as an assistant manager at Dollar General in Columbus, Ga. His football career appeared to be over. Then, one day he saw a flyer for an open football try out for Georgia Military College. He tried out and made the team. 

He tried to keep working at Dollar General but ultimately had to make a choice football/school or work. So he quit that job and started working at a Circle K gas station where he often times worked third shift. He would sleep a couple of hours, go to class, then practice, then take a nap and head back to work. 

Young quickly made a name for himself at Georgia Military College and the offers started coming in. He eventually picked Tennessee over Auburn. He was heading to Auburn to play for Rodney Garner, but when Auburn fired Gus Malzahn he chose Tennessee only to have Jeremy Pruitt be fired a month later. 

As fate would have it Garner lands at Tennessee. Traveled to Africa as a part of the Vols Leaders program. Over the last 18 months or so he has visited with Al Wilson several times to pick his brain on leadership and mindset. 

Young would be the first to tell you that he really struggled his first spring in Knoxville. To the point he dealt with some depression and ended up seeing a therapist pretty regularly who works for the athletic department. 

As far as football one of his challenges has been to learn to play a little slower and at times having a plan to rush the quarterback. 

“Last year (2021) I felt like I just lined up and went,” Young said. “I didn’t have pass rush moves prepared. I need to have in my mind what I’m going to do and what’s my counter move. Last year, I didn’t think about anything like that. Coach G has preached knowing what my plan was first, digest it, slow down and let it come to me.

“I was so anxious. The last sack I had against Vandy I slowed down and had a plan. That’s exactly what I did. I maybe did that a couple of times at Kentucky, but not too much.”

Young was clearly a more polished pass rusher in his second season in Orange, and a more polished player overall. 

Garner noted prior to the start of the 2022 season that the difference in Young from a mental standpoint of understanding the game heading into his second season was striking. 

“I think B.Y., his football IQ has improved tremendously from where he was last year this time. He continues to move that needle in that direction. I think just understanding the nuances of football,” Garner said of Young. “To me, last year when we first started, he really was like a newborn colt. He was just all over the place. Body was everywhere, just learning how to control his body. 

“Just understanding football, understanding pass rush, how to use his hands, how to flip his hips (it’s all so much better). And also, just improving on understanding how the scheme fits. Not just what he does, so how it all plays together, which will help him become a better player. And then, it’s also going to give us the flexibility to actually maybe have an opportunity in some different packages, maybe we can put him in different places as his IQ continues to improve.”