Throughout this draft season, OptimumScouting.com will host multiple “Draft Journals” that hopefully will give insight into the draft process and into each individual prospects background, lifestyles and ups-and-downs of their respective draft processes.
This is cornerback Tavon Young, who was a part of one of the best seasons in Temple football history. While Tyler Matakevich won the national awards, it was Young who slowed down the Notre Dame passing attack and has emerged as Temple’s best draft prospect.
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. One minute I was a college student at Temple, and the next I was on a plane to Phoenix to start preparing for the NFL draft. Although I have been really busy, I have taken a few minutes here and there to reflect on my senior season at Temple. It was definitely one to remember. We finished the season 10-4 which tied a school record for wins, and we were ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in 36 seasons. We beat Penn St. in our opener, went on to win the East Division of the American Athletic Conference, played in the conference championship game, and were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl. It was quite a ride for our school, our program, our fans, and the city of Philadelphia, especially after we finished 6-6 in 2014 and won only 2 games in 2013.
One of the most memorable games was our nationally-televised match up against Notre Dame. We came into the game as a huge underdog and many people thought it would be a blowout. Notre Dame’s roster is full of 5-star recruits and future NFL players so it was really exciting for us to play against them. We played tough but in the end Notre Dame came away with the win. I was really proud of the way our team battled and fought to the very end. For me personally, it gave me a chance to match up against one of the best wide receivers in the country – Will Fuller. We battled all night, and I held him to 5 catches for 46 yards.
As soon as the season ended, it was finally time to start focusing on the next step in my career. I decided to do my pre-draft training at EXOS in Phoenix. I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and then spent my college years in Philly so I’m a true East Coast guy. Phoenix is a long way from home, but I hopped on the plane because EXOS is one of the best training facilities in the country and would give me the chance to train with many of the top players in this year’s upcoming draft. I spent long days and countless hours over the past few weeks working on position-specific drills, as well improving my strength, speed, and 40-yard dash technique.
In January, I had the opportunity to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. My teammates Tyler Matakevich and Matt Ioannidis were also there to represent Temple which made the experience even better. I had a really good week of practice against the best senior players in the country. I don’t really pay attention to the Internet or what people are saying about me to be honest, but everyone was texting me and calling me to tell me about all of the positive things people were saying about my performance. I have to admit it felt good because I always considered myself to be one of the best cornerbacks in the country and now people were finally taking notice.
But I’m not the kind of person to let success go to my head. Although I had a strong performance at the Senior Bowl, I knew I still had a lot of work to do to get ready for the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. So I headed back to EXOS to train even harder than I had before.
I arrived in Indianapolis with the rest of the defensive backs on Friday, February 26th. We were the last position group to come. I had mentally prepared myself for what I knew would be a grueling 4 day job interview. The first two days were filled with medical exams, psychological tests, team meetings and interviews, and media interviews. When most people think of the Combine, they only focus on the 40 yard dash. But some of the most challenging parts happen behind the scenes. There is a strict schedule for prospects to follow with very little down time. As soon I arrived at the player hotel, I was taken to the hospital to start the medical evaluation process. After spending a couple of hours at the hospital, I went to orientation where I was able to meet my group and hear what the next few days would be like. Some players at other positions had already been in Indianapolis since Tuesday, and they were beginning their on-field workouts. Seeing them perform on the field made me anxious.
I had several interviews and meetings with teams, and I used them as an opportunity to demonstrate my football IQ and passion for the game. I also used the interviews to learn about the organizations and life in the NFL. Everyone likes to talk about the craziest question they were asked, but there was nothing that really caught me off guard. Some of the interviews were more interesting than others, and the teams definitely try to make you uncomfortable at times, but for the most part we discussed my background, personal life and football-specific knowledge.
On Sunday, the defensive backs did the bench press. I completed 10 reps but had one deducted – so I ended up with 9 officially. I know that I can do more so I will do the bench press again at my pro day on March 16th.
I could hardly sleep Sunday night knowing that the next day would be the 40 yard dash. I practiced my 40 start over and over in my head until I fell asleep. I woke up early and headed over to Lucas Oil Stadium with my group. Players are grouped alphabetically so I was the very last cornerback for each drill. I had mixed feelings about having to wait for each drill, but I stayed calm and did not get caught up in the numbers of the other guys that went before me.
I knew that a lot of teams had questions about my speed and athleticism so I knew I had a lot to prove. My 40-yard dash went well as my official time was a 4.46, which was among the top 10 fastest for my position. A number of teams clocked me in the 4.3s. I also was a top performer in the 3-cone drill and the short shuttle. These are important for cornerbacks as they measure agility and the ability to quickly change direction. I also think I showed that I have good feet and hips in the position drills.
Overall, I was very happy with my performance at the Combine. It was an intense and intimidating experience, but I think I helped my draft status. But there is no resting or days off as I now have to get ready for my pro day.
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