Notre Dame Football: 2017 Freshman Breakdown – Michael Young
Michael Young provides Notre Dame with a gritty, athletic option in the slot.
Michael Young – Receiver – 5’11, 180 lbs – Destrehan, Louisiana – Destrehan High School
Young, ranked as the #385 overall recruit by 247 Sports and the #20 player in Louisiana by Rivals, has likely been slightly overlooked due to his size. I forget all about his size when I watch him on the field.
Young performed very well for his high school. So well that he received over 20 offers including ND, Arizona, Texas A&M, Oregon, Kansas, Virginia Tech and Missouri.
Coach Denson was Young’s main recruiter and the two of them built a strong relationship. In-state programs started to show Young a lot of attention down the stretch but Young never wavered from his commitment.
Click here to watch Michael Young’s Hudl highlight film here
The first thing that jumps out at me about Young’s film is his physicality. For a small guy, he can sure lay the wood and seems like he enjoys it. Because of this, the concern about his size goes right out the window for me. His grit will be great for Notre Dame’s run game.
Speaking of which, Young shows a lot of promise in his jet sweep carries, something Notre Dame likes to run in their offense. I expect Young to perform well out of the backfield in his career at Notre Dame.
As a receiver, Young has plenty of speed. His top-end wheels are impressive while you watch him run away from defenders. What’s more impressive is his acceleration. He finds that second gear quickly and is agile enough to make would-be tacklers miss with nasty jump-cuts.
Projection
With the depth at slot including only C.J. Sanders, who struggled down the stretch and also has KR/PR duties, and former walk-on Chris Finke, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Young sees the field in ’17. As I stated in his film evaluation, although he’s small, he’s not afraid to hit.
With inconsistency being an issue for Sanders and the fact that he only has 2 years of eligibility left, Young could end up being a starter early in his career. He clearly needs to add some weight and strength but I like his skill set and polish.
I could see Young getting a look as a returner in the kickoff/punt game as well.
Must Read: 2017 Freshman Breakdown - C.J. Holmes
Many fans and analysts predict Young may end up being the most underrated recruit in the ’17 class. He’s an important player for the Irish with the depth at his position being what it is. You gotta love his speed and toughness. I expect Young to be a fan favorite at Notre Dame.