Better Know a Buckeye: Chase Young

This week's Better Know a Buckeye feature continues with a profile of Chase Young, a weakside defensive end prospect from Hyattsville, Maryland.

Young is the second-ranked overall prospect in Ohio State's class (behind fellow five-star Jeffrey Okudah) and has the promise to be one of the best pass rushers to ever come through Ohio State. The consensus top-ten prospect and five-star product from the DeMatha Catholic program did not want for offers from the best programs in college football. However, it was Maryland, the home-state program, that was the one to beat for his services. Young favored Maryland for numerous reasons, thinking especially of his post-career plans to work in the FBI. Ultimately, Larry Johnson, well-known in Maryland recruiting circles, convinced him to come to Ohio State. Young committed to Ohio State at Friday Night Lights last year.

I retell this story below and discuss the reasons why he chose the Buckeyes over the Terrapins. Thereafter, I provide a scouting report of a weakside defensive end prospect who could still do well to find playing time as a true freshman despite the established depth ahead of him. I conclude with some highlight film for the reader to watch at the end of the feature.

HIS RECRUITMENT

DeMatha Catholic is one of a few talent prep football factories in Maryland, a state that is deceptively rich in talent despite getting below the fold treatment in favor of states like California, Florida, and Texas. DeMatha Catholic might be the best program in the state. The program has won four-straight conference titles, usually to the detriment of rival Our Lady of Good Counsel. The top talent from DeMatha Catholic land at premier programs across the country. You may remember DeMatha Catholic for producing the Kouandjio brothers, both of whom are in the NFL after illustrious college careers at Alabama.

Chase Young was always going to be the next in line of DeMatha Catholic talent that would bring major coaches from across the country to its campus in Hyattsville. The regional heavyweights started calling first. Maryland and Penn State (along with Illinois) offered on the same day on June 23, 2015. He added more offers from Kentucky, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Virginia Tech through the summer. Florida State offered on September 7.

The big day came when both Alabama and Ohio State (along with Boston College and Iowa, as footnotes) extended scholarship offers on September 10. Thereafter, Chase Young was secure in his status as one of the most highly sought prospects in the entire country.

Young garnered even more offers from there, including big ones from programs like Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, and USC, but his recruitment focused on two schools: Ohio State and Maryland. Larry Johnson seems to have been the focal point of Ohio State's allure. Johnson has a big name among DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) high school programs from his time at Penn State, in which the area, and Maryland in particular, became extensions of Penn State's in-state recruiting. At the same time, Young expressed an interest in staying home and playing for the in-state Terrapins. He liked his conversations with D.J. Durkin, who had just taken over the program. Playing for Maryland may have also put him in prime position for what he wants to do after football: become an FBI agent.

Maryland and Ohio State each lobbied aggressively for Young's services through last spring. Young made three unofficial visits to Maryland in a three-week span. He also visited Ohio State for the first time at the beginning of last April. Alabama tried to cut into the picture at this time as well. Alabama coaches visited Young in June and recruiting services even publicized a Skype conversation between Nick Saban and Chase Young. However, this race was entirely between the Buckeyes and the Terrapins entering the summer.

Initial crystal ball forecasts seemed to favor the Terrapins as D.J. Durkin worked hard to make his presence felt in Maryland. However, the positions flipped as the summer progressed. Sources close to Ohio State and DeMatha Catholic felt Young favored the Buckeyes as a key visit to Ohio State for Friday Nights Lights loomed. Recruiting outlets anticipated a commitment was forthcoming and were prepared when it happened.

HIS COMMITMENT

Chase Young committed to Ohio State on July 22, 2016 as the 12th member of what would become Ohio State's full 2017 recruiting class. He chose Ohio State over competing offers from Alabama and Maryland, among others.

Eleven Warriors was one of several news outlets on the scene to interview Young after his commitment.

Young's remarks highlighted several points. He did not anticipate committing that day but otherwise felt Ohio State was where he wanted to be. He also reiterated a common theme among recent signees from the DMV recruiting area. Larry Johnson was a major reason why he committed to Ohio State. Johnson established a sterling reputation while at Ohio State, which he may have only increased since arriving at Ohio State.

I am 100% committed to hio state Buckeyes. Thank you to all who supported me.#blessup pic.twitter.com/zD01aRliWa

— CY2 (@youngchase907) July 23, 2016

Ultimately, Young said, Ohio State just felt like home.

WHERE HE EXCELS

Chase Young is a consensus top-ten defensive end prospect, top-ten overall prospect, and a composite five-star prospect because he might be the best pass rusher any program could sign in his class. He's too much one-on-one, which is why opposing offenses had to double-team on any pass-rushing situation. To hope an offensive tackle could block him one-on-one in a certain passing situation was a concession of a sack before the ball was snapped.

The features that propelled Chase Young to a five-star top-ten prospect are the attributes of an elite pass-rusher. He's among the fastest defensive linemen off the ball I've reviewed in the past five recruiting cycles. His athleticism jumps off the page, as do his motor and his ability to change directions. Watch closely and you'll see the latter feature show up in running down situations when Young has to make a play after the running back has made it past the line of scrimmage.

MUST WORK ON

Strength will be an immediate issue for Young as he aspires for more playing time. Right now, his frame does fine as a situational pass-rusher. It would make him a liability as an every-down defensive end as teams would just run to his side every play.

Some of his highlight film showing his best attributes hints at how this might be a problem. His lack of strength makes him an easier guy to block on run downs. There's more than a few occasions of Young being stood straight-up at the point of attack and escorted to the second-level. To his credit, Young is adroit at getting off and making a play on the ball carrier before more damage is done. All the same, Young would probably not be ready as an every-down weakside defensive end when the season starts at Indiana.

Elsewhere, Young's technique (i.e. how he places his hands and how he fights off a block) is raw and needs work. This is a Larry Johnson specialty, though. Combine Young's motor with Johnson's ability to get the most technique out of his unit and Young should be fine.

REDSHIRT?

Young is good enough to see the field even with a stacked depth chart ahead of him. My best guess is Young sees spot time as a true freshman as a situational pass-rusher or in mop-up time. He won't challenge Hubbard or Lewis at the top of the depth chart but could still have an intriguing first year on campus.

HIGHLIGHTS

Here are career highlights of Chase Young.