Tag: Craig young

Colts reportedly release two LBs as part of roster cuts

The Colts are reportedly releasing two linebackers as part of roster cutdowns. Here is what you need to know.

Roster cutdowns continue for the Indianapolis Colts, with them reportedly releasing linebackers Liam Anderson and Craig Young, according to Joel Erickson of the Indy Star.

Erickson would add that the Colts’ are “hoping” that they can get Anderson back on the practice squad.

Anderson would play in the first and third preseason game, missing the second one against Arizona with an injury. He was in on five tackles and allowed three receptions on three targets for 34 yards. Anderson played eight special teams snaps as well.

In 2023, Anderson played eight special teams snaps in the Colts’ Week 17 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Young was signed following this past April’s draft as an undrafted rookie out of Kansas. Young came to the NFL an experienced college player, appearing in 49 games during his time at Ohio State and Kansas, and brought some additional coverage ability to the position.

Young appeared in all three preseason games defensively, totaling 55 snaps. He made seven tackles and allowed four targets on four receptions, but limited pass catchers to 7.8 yards per reception. Young also played four total special teams snaps.

Making the 53-man roster for both players was always going to be an uphill battle in a fairly established linebacke room. Starting in nickel are Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed. Segun Olubi is a core teams contributor, along with being the backup middle linebacker and SAM linebacker when in base.

Rookie Jaylon Carlies, meanwhile, caught the attention of the coaching staff with his ability in coverage as a former safety, with Grant Stuard being another core teams contributor.

To stay up to date with all of the Colts’ roster moves, click here.

Colts rookie minicamp preview: UDFA LB Craig Young

With Colts minicamp taking place May 10-11, here is a preview of undrafted linebacker Craig Young from Kansas.

Rookie minicamp for the Indianapolis Colts will take place on May 10-11. This is the rookies’ first opportunity to be in the building, where they will meet the coaching staff and begin learning the offensive and defensive schemes in the classroom, before applying it on the practice field.

Along with adding nine players through the draft, the Colts also signed seven undrafted rookies. I will be previewing each of those undrafted players, with Kansas linebacker Craig Young up next.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 226
RAS: 7.04

Image

College profile

Breakdown: Young began his college career at Ohio State before transferring to Kansas for the final two. In total, he appeared in 49 games, including 24 starts, with the majority of his playing time coming at Kansas. Young adds more coverage abilities to the linebacker position for the Colts, with 933 of his career snaps coming from the slot, according to PFF, and has totaled two interceptions and five pass breakups during the previous two years. Young has been a very reliable tackler, missing only nine of his 108 total attempts. On special teams, Young played 352 total snaps across five different units. According to Aaron Wilson, the Colts gave Young a $20,000 signing bonus and $40,000 guaranteed.

From the Topeka Capital-Journal: “A versatile linebacker, he proved he could be reliable in a number of different roles. Whatever position he plays in the NFL, he has the athleticism to make plays.”

For more Colts’ rookie minicamp previews, follow the links below:

Laiatu Latu
Adonai Mitchell
Matt Goncalves
Tanor Bortolini
Anthony Gould
Jaylon Carlies
Jaylin Simpson
Micah Abraham
Jonah Laulu
Kedon Slovis
Jason Bean
Trent Pennix
Spencer Shrader
Dalton Tucker
Xavier White

Former Ohio State player signs with Colts

Former Buckeye signs with Colts #GoBucks

The NFL draft is over, but former Ohio State football players are still making moves to find their future homes. One former Buckeye has finally found one with the Indianapolis Colts.

Craig Young was a three-star rated athlete in the class of 2019 out of the state of Indiana and spent three seasons in Columbus before moving on to play for the Kansas Jayhawks. During his time at Ohio State, he was always viewed as a hybrid linebacker/safety and was thought of as the ideal option for the legendary bullet position in the Buckeye defense. However, much like another former bullet, Brendon White, the position never really developed and neither really fully blossom.

Young was always a great athlete and those traits were on display during the Kansas pro day. With that enticing athleticism mixed with his decent production of 101 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and three passes deflected in three seasons with the Jayhawks, it made him an intriguing undrafted free agent pick-up for Indianapolis.

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Ohio State linebacker/safety Craig Young to transfer to Kansas

We wish Young well! #GoBucks

We now know where another Ohio State football player that entered the transfer portal is headed. According to an announcement on his Twitter account Monday, former linebacker/safety Craig Young is transferring to the Kansas Jayhawks.

Young started off the season with a lot of promise. He was expected to be the one to get the first look at the bullet position that’s basically a hybrid safety/linebacker. That didn’t happen as things developed early on in the season. Instead, Ronnie Hickman emerged and became arguably the best playmaker on a struggling and evolving defense.

Seeing the writing on the wall despite beginning to carve out a spot at safety, Young inserted his name into the transfer portal last week, and quickly made his decison to head to Lawrence, Kansas. He’ll still have three years of elibility left and should figure greatly in Kansas’ plans next season.

As always, we wish all players from the brotherhood well, even if does mean success at another program.

[lawrence-related id=69535,69500]

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Craig Young enters the transfer portal

Another player hits the transfer portal. #GoBucks

‘Tis the season when your College Football Playoff hopes are dashed I guess. Just a day after quarterback Quinn Ewers entered the transfer portal, and less than a week after Jack Miller did, linebacker Craig Young has followed suit.

Young was supposed to be a big part of the defense this fall. He looked like a prime candidate for the hybrid bullet position that is part safety, part linebacker. However, once the season got going, it became apparent that Young would not be a staple on a defense looking to retool after some struggles early on in the season. Instead, Ronnie Hickman became the mainstay at the position.

Young began to get a little more playing time at the tail end of the season, but at that point, his mind must have been made up.

It’s the brave, new world of the transfer portal and one in which OSU has been isolated this time of year because of its ability to get into the CFP. However, it’s been a different year in many ways for Ohio State in 2021.

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Craig Young (15) greets fans who rushed the field following a 33-24 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

When he does make it to a new school, Young will potentially have three years of eligibility remaining because of the extra year afforded to players because of the COVID-19 pandemic.