Malik Young’s star rises after commitment to Gamecocks
Hard-to-miss Woodmont offensive lineman sprang into chance at USC offer
SPARTANBURG — Malik Young had one main goal when he participated in a football camp at South Carolina in 2012.
The Woodmont High offensive lineman arrived at Williams-Brice Stadium as an unknown in recruiting circles. He departed with an important connection made with USC offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.
“I went in there thinking I had to make a name for myself,” Young recalled. “I knew nobody knew about Malik Young. Nobody knew about Woodmont High School. ... When one-on-ones came around, coach Elliott told me I had a lot of upside and told me to stay in ‘contact.”
More than a year later, the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Young is a Class of 2014 Gamecocks commitment and a Shrine Bowl all-star.
There’s a sense of pride, he said, this week as he practices against other Shrine Bowl selections. His main goals are to enjoy the experience and to keep on-field errors to a minimum.
“It means a lot to me,” Young said. “I get to play against the best players in the Carolinas and see how I match up against them and see how my talents do against them.”
It was a good but trying season for Young. Woodmont won four games, three more than in 2012. He missed four games while recovering from a jaw injury sustained in a car wreck. In seven games at right guard, Young finished with an average grade of 76 percent.
“He had 277 production points, which is figured by number of correctly executed plays, pancakes, key blocks and extra efforts, then subtract missed assignments and penalties,” Woodmont coach Jason Farmer said. “He had the highest of any of our linemen and played four fewer games.”
Farmer was hired at Woodmont, which is south of Greenville, in March 2012 and recalls the first impression he had of Young: He passed the eye test. Young also impressed Farmer with his speed. He ran a 4.99 40-yard dash at the 2012 Charlotte Nike SPARQ Combine — the third-fastest for an offensive lineman there.
Farmer texted Elliott, whom he knew from the USC coach’s days at Appalachian State, to tell him, “This is a guy I think y’all need to put on your radar and look at.”
Elliott saw potential in Young, Farmer said. He and Elliott kept in touch after that 2012 camp, a relationship that accelerated when Elliott visited the school May 21. He found that Young was bigger and stronger than when he took part in the 2012 camp.
“He put his eyes on him and watched film for about two minutes and made an offer to him,” Farmer said.
Young is a three-star prospect and the No. 26 player in the state this year, according to 247Composite, which factors in all networks’ rankings. S.C. State had offered him, and Marshall also showed interest.
South Carolina, however, became the starting point and the finish line for Young’s recruitment. He visited the campus on May 28 and made his commitment in person.
Young’s interest in the Gamecocks began during his ninth-grade season, when he wasn’t playing football. He also has family in the Columbia area.
“Malik has worked tremendously hard to get to where he is today,” Farmer said. “A total dedication to the weight room and in the classroom has given him opportunities that I don’t think he could ever dream of.”
Young worked at right guard and right tackle during Monday’s Shrine Bowl practices. Despite his accomplishments, including another all-star week coming up this month with the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, there’s more work to be done, he said.
“I’ve come a real long way, from not playing football my ninth-grade year to playing left tackle, then right guard and finally getting an offer,” Young said. “I still have to make a name for myself. I want to make a bigger name for myself and prove that I should be here.”
Hard-to-miss Woodmont offensive lineman sprang into chance at USC offer
SPARTANBURG — Malik Young had one main goal when he participated in a football camp at South Carolina in 2012.
The Woodmont High offensive lineman arrived at Williams-Brice Stadium as an unknown in recruiting circles. He departed with an important connection made with USC offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.
“I went in there thinking I had to make a name for myself,” Young recalled. “I knew nobody knew about Malik Young. Nobody knew about Woodmont High School. ... When one-on-ones came around, coach Elliott told me I had a lot of upside and told me to stay in ‘contact.”
More than a year later, the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Young is a Class of 2014 Gamecocks commitment and a Shrine Bowl all-star.
There’s a sense of pride, he said, this week as he practices against other Shrine Bowl selections. His main goals are to enjoy the experience and to keep on-field errors to a minimum.
“It means a lot to me,” Young said. “I get to play against the best players in the Carolinas and see how I match up against them and see how my talents do against them.”
It was a good but trying season for Young. Woodmont won four games, three more than in 2012. He missed four games while recovering from a jaw injury sustained in a car wreck. In seven games at right guard, Young finished with an average grade of 76 percent.
“He had 277 production points, which is figured by number of correctly executed plays, pancakes, key blocks and extra efforts, then subtract missed assignments and penalties,” Woodmont coach Jason Farmer said. “He had the highest of any of our linemen and played four fewer games.”
Farmer was hired at Woodmont, which is south of Greenville, in March 2012 and recalls the first impression he had of Young: He passed the eye test. Young also impressed Farmer with his speed. He ran a 4.99 40-yard dash at the 2012 Charlotte Nike SPARQ Combine — the third-fastest for an offensive lineman there.
Farmer texted Elliott, whom he knew from the USC coach’s days at Appalachian State, to tell him, “This is a guy I think y’all need to put on your radar and look at.”
Elliott saw potential in Young, Farmer said. He and Elliott kept in touch after that 2012 camp, a relationship that accelerated when Elliott visited the school May 21. He found that Young was bigger and stronger than when he took part in the 2012 camp.
“He put his eyes on him and watched film for about two minutes and made an offer to him,” Farmer said.
Young is a three-star prospect and the No. 26 player in the state this year, according to 247Composite, which factors in all networks’ rankings. S.C. State had offered him, and Marshall also showed interest.
South Carolina, however, became the starting point and the finish line for Young’s recruitment. He visited the campus on May 28 and made his commitment in person.
Young’s interest in the Gamecocks began during his ninth-grade season, when he wasn’t playing football. He also has family in the Columbia area.
“Malik has worked tremendously hard to get to where he is today,” Farmer said. “A total dedication to the weight room and in the classroom has given him opportunities that I don’t think he could ever dream of.”
Young worked at right guard and right tackle during Monday’s Shrine Bowl practices. Despite his accomplishments, including another all-star week coming up this month with the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, there’s more work to be done, he said.
“I’ve come a real long way, from not playing football my ninth-grade year to playing left tackle, then right guard and finally getting an offer,” Young said. “I still have to make a name for myself. I want to make a bigger name for myself and prove that I should be here.”