| Player Name | Zion Young |
| Position (and jersey #) | Edge #9 |
| College (Include years and all colleges attended if applicable) | Michigan State (2022-2023)Missouri (2024-2025) |
| Height (written as 4 numbers. Ex: 6’1 = 6010, 6’0 = 6000, 5’11 = 5110) | 6060 |
| Weight (lbs) | 262 |
| Age/DOB | 03/18/2004 21 |
| High School/Hometown | Westlake HS/Atlanta, Georgia |
| Games Watched (Year and opponent for each game) | Vs. South Carolina Vs. Alabama@Oklahoma |
| Injury History (college only, include all injuries that caused missed games) | |
| Context (Relevant background info) | Former 3 star prospect, 1st Team-All SEC 2025 |
Traits:
| Athletic Ability (Body Type, Speed, Acceleration/Burst, Play Strength) | Good Mental Ability, Good play recognition, Good Competitive, Good play speed |
| Mental Ability (Recognize and Execute, Processing, Competitive Toughness, Play Speed) | Adequate hand usage, Average hand placement, Average control |
| Pass Rush Ability (Tools/Moves, Bull/Power ability, Bend, Counter, Pass Rush Plan, Finish) | Solid Pass Rush AbilityAverage BendGood Swim MoveAverage Bull RushAverage Pass Rush plan |
| Hand Usage (Placement, Control, Block Shedding) | Very Good Run defenseVery Good gap integrity, Good tackling Good play Recognition Good Patience |
| Run Defense (Gap Sound, Patience, Tackling, Recognition) | Very Good Run defenseVery Good gap integrity, Good tackling, Good play Recognition Good Patience |
| Get Off (Speed) | Solid Get-Off |
| Coverage Ability (if applicable) | N/A |
Summary:
Zion Young was a three-star recruit out of Atlanta and enjoyed a plethora of offers before committing to Michigan State. After spending two years at Michigan State, he would transfer to Missouri for the last two years of his career. Over the course of his career, he did not miss any significant time due to injury, so durability will not be a concern at the next level. He has steadily improved during his time in college, finishing 2025 with a career-high 6.5 sacks and earning First-Team All-SEC Honors after a breakout season.
Zion Young’s bread and butter come from his run-stopping ability. His ability to fill the gaps, his patience, his tackling, and his size allow him to stop the run well and help him in the pass rush. His swim move is his best move, but his spin move is still a valuable part of his arsenal. He is a very durable player with zero injury questions; he missed part of one game with a minor quad injury but returned to play in the same game. His pass-rush ability is questionable, with his best move being his swim. However, he struggles with his bull rush, often lacks a plan when pass rushing, and gets stood up and thrown around if his first move does not succeed. He also does not have the natural bend or quick get-off that are desirable in a pass rusher, but his size and long arms allow him to swat balls down at the line. His hand placement and body control were average at best, and would see him stonewalled and stood up by more physical and pro-ready tackles. Despite these shortcomings, his size and instincts on the line of scrimmage and his ability to stop the run are in high demand in the pros and his physical tools provide a lot for a coach to capitalize on and develop. If he can develop his first step, he’ll be a great defender for years to come.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit:
4-3
Lions
Bears
Chiefs
All of these teams run a 4-3 defense and prioritize winning on early downs, especially against the run, using discipline and gap integrity with the front 4. The emphasis these teams place on first and second down, enabling the front four to pin their ears back and rush on third down, is why these situations would be perfect for Young to develop and showcase his talents.
NFL Player Comp:
Lukas Van Ness
Young shares many traits with Lukas Van Ness. They have similar measurables, including height and weight, and both had multiple developed rush moves coming out of college that need refinement with hand placement and control. In addition, both players often lined up all over the defensive to fit multiple roles for whatever the situation calls for.
Projection:
High-end starter
Young has many of the physical tools to succeed, and also comes with a versatile rush moveset and a great ability to defend against the run. He needs to improve his hand placement and develop consistency in his hand usage. These are problems that can be corrected with coaching, especially for someone with Young’s football IQ, and I project Young to have a successful career as a consistent starter in the NFL.
Grade and Round Projection:
Young’s final grade is a 5.4, and I project him to be selected in the early second round.
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