Tag: Christian Young

Arizona DB Christian Young could wear multiple hats for Packers

Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire spoke with Arizona DB Christian Young, a potential Day 3 target for the Packers in the 2023 draft.

Christian Young is a prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft that’s capable of wearing multiple hats for an NFL defense. During his time at Arizona, Young played all over the secondary for the Wildcats. 

Young ended his career at Arizona with 28 starts under his belt with snaps at linebacker, safety, in the slot, and on the boundary. 

A three-star recruit out of Texas, Young enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2021, recording 67 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three pass deflections. This past season, Young recorded 76 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, a .5 sack, and two pass breakups.

With his versatility, Young could be an attractive day-three target for the Green Bay Packers. The Arizona prospect recently met virtually with Green Bay’s defensive backs coach, Ryan Downard. 

Prior to competing in the Shrine Bowl, I got a chance to speak to Young back in December about his game and what he could bring to an NFL defense.

Young logged over 2,000 snaps on defense during his time at Arizona. He logged 824 snaps in the box, 648 at safety, 382 snaps in the slot, and 155 on the boundary. Young said that he was at his best playing the Viper position for the Wildcats. The viper position is essentially a hybrid safety-linebacker position.

“I feel like I’m most comfortable playing that safety/viper role and being in the box because I tackle well and I’m a physical player, ” Young said. “I’m able to play a lot of positions because of my athletic ability and my confidence.” 

Young is a physical tone-setter against the run. Young’s versatility is what stands out about his game. However, his physical play style and relentlessness are what he says is his greatest strength. 

“My competitiveness is a trait I think I have that shows up in my game a lot,” Young said. “I love to compete and it lights a fire underneath me to get me going.”

Young on his range playing in the deep third and ability in coverage: 

“I feel like I’m underrated in coverage,” Young said. “As a strong safety, I think I gave up four or fewer catches against tight ends in man coverage. The Pac-12 has had some good tight ends that I’ve faced. This year I was guarding slots a lot more this year with my position being a lot more diverse and I felt like I did a good job there as well.”

On his ability to play in the box and hold up in run support: 

“I feel like my tackling and ability to come up in the run game is an essential part in my game and a piece of my game that I take pride in,” Young said. “Other than my man coverage skills I would say my ability to tackle is another good strength of mine.”

During his time at Arizona, Young logged 413 snaps on special teams. That special teams experience could help him see the field immediately as a rookie. 

“I’ve played on special teams since my freshman year of college and I know that I would play special teams for whatever team I land on,” Young said. “I definitely feel like I could make an immediate impact in that area.”

On what Young could bring to an NFL team: 

“Teams can place me anywhere,” Young said. “I’m the fastest safety in this draft and I’m big enough to play in the box,” Young said. “I’m big enough and good enough to guard tight ends man-to-man. I can play in the post, box, off the edge, and do anything a team needs. I’m a reliable tough-nosed player that competes play in and play out.”

The Packers currently hold six picks in the final three rounds of the NFL Draft. That number could increase or decrease with draft day trades. Regardless, Young is a player that they could target with one of those picks.

Young may not have a natural position at the next level. However, with his special teams experience, Young could carve out a role on special teams while providing quality depth at multiple positions. 

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Know the Opponent: Arizona’s athletic defense is still a work in progress

Arizona will throw out athletic defenders on the field, but the results aren’t quite there as of yet.

Oregon has the kind of offense that the 2022 Arizona Wildcats dread. The Ducks are far from one-dimensional. The Ducks can run the ball just as well as they can throw it.

Arizona has shown the ability to limit the passing game, but the Wildcats haven’t been able to stop anyone’s run game, something Oregon will look to exploit on Saturday night.

As a team, Arizona is giving up 213 yards on the ground. One reason is that their front seven is a talented, but young group. The Ducks will need to look out for defensive end Hunter Echols, a fifth-year senior that leads the Wildcats with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.

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According to Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, the Ducks expect Arizona to mix up formations up front in order to cause confusion.

“Their front, that’s built a little bit off their front. I know their defensive coordinator (Johnny Nansen) has a front background as well,” he said. “But I think they’ll play a variety of fronts; they’ll be three down, they’ll be four down, they change their blitz packages a good amount. And obviously, they try to play to his (Echols) skill sets and use his talents. He’s a good player. He’s disruptive and it shows up.”

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The Wildcat secondary is pretty good and it’s led by safety Christian Young, a senior from Houston. He was second on the team last season with 68 tackles. So far this season, Young has 29 tackles through five games.

Junior Christian Roland-Wallace is Arizona’s most experienced and best corner and he’ll surely get himself acquainted with Duck receiver Troy Franklin. It’ll be a good test for Oregon’s receivers and tight ends. Arizona hasn’t allowed a receiver to go for over 100 yards as of yet.

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