Jerrell Young, The Head Hunter

Safety Jerrell Young is a punishing hitter in the USF secondary.

The USF secondary is loaded with play makers, but one of the best is safety Jerrell Young. Young is a hard hitting safety for the Bulls, dealing out punishment to ball carriers and shutting down passing games as well.

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Young, the 6'1" 205-pound junior safety, has become one of the best defensive players for the Bulls. Coaches are impressed by his ability to tackle on the field and the confidence he brings with him when he lines up on defense.

In 2008, Young played mostly in a reserve role, but made an appearance in all 13 games, totaling 25 tackles. In 2009, he played in just 9 games, starting 6, but missed 3 after dislocating his elbow. He returned and made an impact in the secondary.

2010 was a breakout season for Young. The head hunting safety totaled 38 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. He had 3 pass break ups and 3 interceptions, showing his ability to play against the run and the pass. He missed 1 game due to an ankle injury, but returned and became an enforcer for the USF secondary.

Young returns to a crowded safety position next year for the Bulls. Along with fellow starter John Lejiste, the Bulls also have JaQuez Jenkins and Mark Joyce rising up in the depth chart that will push for playing time, but Young will be the starter. Young is a hard-hitting safety that can fly up to any ball carrier with tremendous speed and lay out punishment. In Mark Snyder's zone blitz scheme, expect to see more of Young in the backfield, chasing helpless quarterbacks around the field. In the pass game, Young will be a feared target due to his ability to play the pass and matchup with wide receivers and tight ends.

Young is just one of the many incredible players for the USF defense, the strength of the USF team. Expect him to have an incredible season in 2011, his senior year, as he tries to bring the Big East title to Tampa.