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Taylor Young is 5’10 and might be the Big 12’s best linebacker.
Pro Football Focus named Young to the Big 12 first team. He also made the Bednarik watch list. Despite being undersized, Young has been dominant against the run and the pass.
Against Oklahoma State, Young gets to Rudolph for the sack despite the block:
Young also has a fantastic ability to make tough solo tackles. When the Mountaineers came to Waco, Young came up with a big tackle near the goal line:
Baylor is hoping to survive some big questions with the defensive line by switching to a 3-4. Young is a big reason the Bears hope this move will be successful. Young is a force wherever he lines up. Pro Football Focus rated him the second most productive pass rusher and second best run stopper in the Big 12 last season. As an added bonus, between Forever Young and Taylor Gang, he may have the greatest headline potential in Big 12 history.
While many have doubts about the 2017 Bears, with Taylor Young, K.J. Smith, Travon Blanchard and Davion Hall all returning, the hope for that defense should remain high. But this season, Baylor still has one of the nation’s best quarterbacks and a shot to contend. As Baylor transitions to a new defense while trying to see if they can make another run at the playoff and surprise everyone, Taylor Young figures to have another great season.