Chris Young #32

Position: Strong Safety
College: Georgia Tech
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210
Hometown: Senoia, Ga.
Selection: Round 7 (228)
SCOUTING REPORT

Physical, hard hitter in the secondary who is a natural strong safety, forced to play cornerback in his last year-and-a-half…Has solid, sturdy muscle development…Shows no hesitation diagnosing the plays…Uses his strong frame effectively to jam the tight ends at the line and has the short area quickness to mirror the receiver’s moves…Quick and smooth in transition, showing proper hip snap hurrying out of his backpedal…Fluid dropping off in the zone, easily handling the switch-offs…Has very quick plant-&-drive action when changing direction…Anticipates the deep pass, going up for it at its highest point…Shows good flexibility in his leaps and the balance and hands to make the interception…Reads the run plays and comes up with force to fill the lanes…Shows solid framework with good technique and positioning when wrap tackling….Able to press and stay with receivers in their routes…Opens his hips properly when having to turn and run to the ball…Started 35 consecutive regular season games…Team captain who ranks tenth among Tech’s defensive backs on the career-record list with 219 tackles (154 solos)…Credited with five sacks for minus 47 yards and nine stops for losses of 47 yards…Caused two fumbles and recovered three others…Intercepted four passes and deflected 26 others.

2001 SEASON
All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report…Lined up at strongside cornerback, recording 58 tackles (40 solos) with two sacks for minus 11 yards and three stops for losses of 12 yards…Had a 14-yard interception return and 11 pass deflections…Also recovered two fumbles.

Syracuse...Made 8 tackles (5 solos) and deflected a pass.
Navy...Batted away a pass and returned an interception 14 yards.
Clemson...Credited with a 5-tackle performance.
Duke...Followed with 4 solo tackles, a 9-yard sack, a fumble recovery and 3 deflected passes.
Maryland...Added 7 tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
North Carolina State...Returned a fumble recovery 25 yards for a touchdown.
North Carolina...Had 7 hits (6 solos) and a pass deflection.
Virginia...Followed with 6 tackles (5 solos).
Wake Forest...Was in on 5 solo stops.
Georgia...Registered a 2-yard sack, a pass deflection and 7 tackles (4 solos).
Florida State...Made 5 tackles and broke up a pass.
Stanford (Seattle Bowl)...Closed out his career with 7 tackles (5 solos) and a pass break-up.

2000 SEASON
Started the first seven games at strong safety before moving to strongside cornerback for the final five contests...Fourth on the team with 62 tackles (44 solos), including two sacks for minus 26 yards and four stops for losses of 32 yards...Intercepted two passes and deflected ten others...Caused two fumbles and had three quarterback pressures.

Central Florida and Florida State...Posted 6 tackles with a pass deflection in both games.
Navy...Made 6 solo tackles, including one for a 2-yard loss.
North Carolina...Earned ACC Player of the Week honors as he delivered 3 tackles with a 9-yard sack, picked off a pass in the end zone, returning it 5 yards, deflected a pair of passes and blocked a punt that Tech recovered for a touchdown.
Wake Forest......Followed with a pass break-up and 8 tackles (5 solos).
Clemson......Facing the best receiver in the conference, he held Rod Gardner to three catches for 27 yards, causing Gardner to fumble the ball after one reception, setting up a Tech field goal...Also picked off a pass and deflected 2 others.
Virginia...Caused a fumble, batted away a pass and collected 5 tackles (4 solos).
Georgia...Registered 8 tackles (7 solos), including one for a 4-yard loss and deflected a pair of passes.
Louisiana State (Peach Bowl)...Was in on 5 tackles (2 solos).

1999 SEASON
Won the team’s Most Improved Defensive Player award...Started every game at strong safety (only defensive back to start every game), finishing second on the team with a career-high 89 tackles (61 solos)...Had a 6-yard sack and two stops for losses of 3 yards...Recovered a fumble and deflected five passes...Also had a 14-yard interception return.

Navy...Began the year with a 7-tackle (6 solos) effort.
Clemson, Florida State and Central Florida...Delivered 6 hits in each game.
Maryland...Returned an interception 14 yards, stopped tailback LaMont Jordan for a 2-yard loss, deflected a pass and registered 8 tackles (6 solos).
North Carolina...Followed with a career-high 15 tackles (11 solos).
Virginia...Made 4 hits and batted away a pass.
Wake Forest...Collected 12 tackles (6 solos).
Georgia...Posted 9 tackles (6 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage and a fumble recovery.
Miami (Gator Bowl)...Delivered 8 tackles (6 solos) and a pass deflection.

1998 SEASON
Lettered as a true freshman as the backup at strong safety...Also played on special teams...Started the New Mexico State game in place of injured Jerry Caldwell and made a season-high five tackles...Added three hits vs. Duke and two vs. Wake Forest...Finished with 10 tackles (9 solos).

AGILITY TESTS
4.63 in the 40-yard dash...36.5-inch vertical jump... 10’1” broad jump...Bench presses 225 pounds 23 times...31-inch arm length...8 3/4-inch hands...Right-handed.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated one of the Top 20 wide receivers in the Southeast by Prep Star at East Cowetta (Ga.) High...Named a "Best of the Rest" by Deep South Football...As a senior, he recorded 102 solo tackles, 45 assists, one interception and four caused fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown...Also rushed for 252 yards on 36 carries and three scores and had 10 receptions for 180 yards and three more touchdowns...Earned team MVP honors...Lettered three times in football and once in basketball...First team All-Area and All-Region gridiron selection as a senior.

PERSONAL
Management major...Son of Jackie Young and Leon Woods...Born Christopher Lamont Young on 1/23/80...Resides in Senoia, Georgia.

Chris Young
SELECTED BY DENVER , ROUND 7, PICK 17, OVERALL PICK 228                         MORE INFO
DB | (6-0, 202, 4.65) | GEORGIA TECH
By Pro Football Weekly

Notes: Lettered at strong safety as a freshman in 1998, when he played in 10 games, started one and had 10 tackles. Started every game at strong safety in '99 and had 89 tackles, his first interception and five passes broken up. In 2000, he started the first seven games at strong safety and the last five (including the Peach Bowl) at cornerback. Had 62 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes broken up. Also had four tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. As a cornerback, he probably had his best game vs. Clemson and Rod Gardner in 2000. Started every game at cornerback in '01 and had 58 tackles, 11 passes broken up and an interception, as well as two sacks coming off the corner on blitzes.

Positives: Has excellent size for a cornerback and is a very physical corner who is quick to support against the run. A big hitter who has improved his tackling form. Can intimidate receivers. Is strong and can really jam the receiver at the line of scrimmage. Is also quick to fill as a safety and effective in the box. Should do well on special teams.

Negatives: Does not have the really fluid hips, quick twitch, foot quickness and deep make-up speed scouts look for in a corner. Looks stiff and really gets spread out a lot when he is in transition. Loses a lot when he must turn. Can't do a good job of keeping his coverage cushion. Made a huge mistake at the end of the Clemson game by letting a receiver get behind him for the key score when that was the one thing he could not afford to do. As a safety he is not a real ballhawk, and his instincts can be inconsistent. Does not adjust to the ball thrown over his head that well. Big hitter but will go for the knockout and miss some tackles