Seahawks selected FC, MSU alum Young in '23 NFL Draft

It is said every dog has his day in the sunshine.

Just ask Franklin County High School and Mississippi State University football standout Cameron Young.

During the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the former high school and collegiate Bulldog was taken by the Seattle Seahawks as the 123rd player chosen overall in the highly anticipated and nationally broadcast selection process.

“I like to describe myself as a dog — a guy that’s very physical who loves to establish the line of scrimmage and stop the run,” Young said of how he views his defensive playing abilities.

“But I also got a little twist in there and can rush the passer.”

He characterized his selection by the West Coast professional football team as something he was pleased with.

“I think the Seahawks were one of my favorite (teams), and they’ve been talking to me throughout this whole process,” Young continued.

“I knew that was a place where I wanted to go. With them already having Mississippi State players there, I think I’ll fit in.

“When I talked to the (defensive) line coach, he was saying my position versatility gives me the opportunity to get some reps at the nose spot and also bump up to the (defensive) end spot and get some reps.”

Young, at 6-foot-3, 304 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms, had 11.5 tackles for loss in 42 career games — 24 of which were starts for MSU.

He will play under second-year defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt, who had previously been Seattle’s defensive line coach from 2017 through 2021.

The Seahawks’ organization noted Young gives their team a big presence on a defensive line that, coming into last week’s draft, was lacking interior linemen.

Al Woods, last year’s starting nose tackle, was released in a salary-cap move, as were defensive linemen Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson, while Poona Ford remains unsigned as a free agent.

Young will join the likes of linemen Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed along with edge rushers Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor and Boye Mafe.

Additionally, the Seahawks drafted Auburn University outside linebacker Derick Hall in last week’s NFL Draft second round, and has a 2022 fifth-round pick — Tyreke Smith — coming back after missing his rookie season due to a hip injury.

Young got the call regarding his selection from Seahawks’ General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carroll.

In a brief telephone exchange, Carroll asked Young who he had been sitting with, to which the player responded his family.

“We’ve got big thoughts of where we’re going to put you, and this is going to be a really good opportunity for you,” Carroll said.

“We just want you to come in huge and be ready to go. I know the huge part is easy.”

In that same call, Hurtt told Young he was excited to have him as part of the Seahawks’ family and offered his congratulations to the team’s newest player.

At MSU, Young recorded 107 tackles, two sacks, four pass breakups and one interception during his post-secondary time on the field.

The son of Tremel and Cameron Young started all 13 games at Mississippi State this past season and finished with 38 tackles, three stops for a loss, one sack, one pass deflection and a pair of quarterback hurries.

In prepping at FCHS, Young collected 51 tackles — including 43 solo stops — along with 11 sacks, a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble during his senior campaign with the Bulldogs.

In Young’s junior season at Franklin County, the defensive standout recorded 90 tackles with 10 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Additionally, he amassed 75 tackles and two fumble recoveries as a high school sophomore.