Chase Young
#1 Overall Defensive End by Football Addicts
Born: April 14th, 1999 (20 Years Old)
Height: 6’5
Weight: 265 Lbs
Position: Edge Rusher/DE
University: Ohio State
About Chase
Ohio State has become a factory for defensive linemen for the NFL, but Chase Young might just be the best of the bunch. He was a 5 star defensive end coming out of DeMatha High School in Maryland, a USA Today High School All-American, and was the top recruit in the entire state of Maryland. Chase would end up signing with Ohio State on February 1st, 2017, which would cement the 2017 recruiting class for Ohio State as one of the best they have had in recent memory.
Chase would see playing time as a true freshman behind the likes of Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis (all in the NFL now). He recorded 19 total tackles, 6 for a loss and four sacks that year. It wasn’t until Nick Bosa had to step down do to injury that Chase Young would really get his chance to shine though.
As a sophomore Young took over right where the Bosa brothers had left off and was 8th in the nation in sacks with 10, had 33 tackles and 14.5 of which were for a loss. His performance throughout the 2018 season would earn him 2nd Team All-Big Ten also grabbing plenty of draft scouts attention along the way, and has had the NFL watering at the mouth for over a year now.
In his junior season Chase Young has not only tied the Ohio State record for sacks in a single game (4), but has also become just the 2nd Buckeye to have two 10+ sack seasons in his career. He has been the most dominant player in college football as of today, and before his 2 game suspension for accepting money from a family friend, was gaining serious talk in the Heisman race. Suspension or not, Chase Young is the best player in college football and could be the 1st overall pick come April.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
He is a twitchy edge rusher that has been able to dominate everything standing in his way. I have seen him use multiple pass rush moves successfully, and I believe has a great skill set that he can polish at the NFL level. He can slide off the edge with amazing speed, almost to the point of him literally looking greased off the edge.
Weaknesses
Chase Young is one of the most well rounded prospects I have ever been able to scout, and with that, comes very few weaknesses in his game. His play development skills could improve, but anything else would be knit picking a defender who is so talented, you name anything at anytime he does wrong as something he needs to improve on. Even with his “off the field issues”, leading to a 2 game suspension from the NCAA, Young will still likely be the top prospect in this draft class.
NFL Draft Projection/NFL Player Comp
NFL Draft Projection
If it were based on talent alone, Chase Young would be a lock for the 1st overall pick, but it isn’t that easy. Young is a Top 3 lock though, and whatever team decides to use that pick on him instead of the quarterback position is going to be very excited for years to come. I believe the Washington Redskins will stick with Haskins one more season, hopefully with a coach that actually believes in him, and select Young with the 2nd overall pick.
Even though they went edge rusher in the 1st round last year, Chase Young would immediately become their best pass rusher on the team. Ryan Kerrigan needs to be replaced, and even if he still stays on the roster Young can play over Ioannidis or Jonathan Allen at defensive end.
NFL Player Comp
I normally don’t find it difficult to compare a prospects game to someone I have scouted in the past, but Young is just different. It is safe to say he is going to pave his own way, similarly how we’ve seen the Bosas do so in the NFL today.
The closest thing I have seen to him was 2012 Jadeveon Clowney, and he has already replicated those stats in just 8 games. In 2012 Clowney finished 6th in the Heisman voting and was the hottest thing since 1997 Jennifer Lopez. They both have the ability to completely outmatch their blocker on nearly every snap. The only difference is I don’t think anyone is going to question Chase Young’s willingness to play the game like some tried to do to Clowney in 2014.