Sackem90
Misplaced Panthers Fan
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This article sounded very positive for this Young'un to make our team. (Like my play on words?)
Young and restless
May 1, 2003
By Brett Borden
Panthers.com
The Panthers have drafted a wide receiver who wants to play special teams.
Walter Young, the 6-foot-4 wide receiver from Illinois who came to the Panthers via the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft, said as much soon after he was picked by his new team.
Walter Young likes to play, no matter what he has to do to get on the field. (Illinois Athletic Dept.)
"I think I bring to the table someone who is willing to do it all," said Young. "Not only receiving but blocking. I'm a bigger guy, so I believe that I can wrestle with DBs a little more. When it's time for a play to be made, I feel like I am the guy to do it. I can go over the middle. I can go outside.
"I've gotten enough reps in practice at special teams. I know I can make an impact there."
Making an impact comes easy to Young, who hauled in 106 receptions and 14 touchdowns the past two seasons for the Illini. During his junior year, the one-time quarterback averaged 17.8 yards per reception.
Not bad for a guy who was recruited to throw the football.
"I came in with Kurt Kittner, who now plays for the Falcons, and he won the starting job right off the bat. I didn't want to sit for four or five years and hope to play at quarterback, so I said, "I've got to move.'
"It was kind of tough just getting used to the speed of the game. I had never played receiver except when playing with friends. I had to get used to the constant running and wear and tear on your body. It took me a while, but I think I did it."
Did he ever. Young scored one of his six touchdowns as a senior against the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, giving the Illini a short-lived 10-6 lead early in the third quarter. He went on to earn All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention by the league's coaches.
As a seventh-round draft choice, Young comes into the NFL under the radar. In fact, while he was being selected, ESPN switched to coverage of Kevin Millwood's no-hitter in major league baseball, denying Young the thrill of seeing his name flash as the current draft choice.
"We joked about that, but I'm just happy to be drafted," said Young. "They can play 10 baseball games for all I care."
Young won't, though. Baseball doesn't have special teams.
Young and restless
May 1, 2003
By Brett Borden
Panthers.com
The Panthers have drafted a wide receiver who wants to play special teams.
Walter Young, the 6-foot-4 wide receiver from Illinois who came to the Panthers via the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft, said as much soon after he was picked by his new team.
Walter Young likes to play, no matter what he has to do to get on the field. (Illinois Athletic Dept.)
"I think I bring to the table someone who is willing to do it all," said Young. "Not only receiving but blocking. I'm a bigger guy, so I believe that I can wrestle with DBs a little more. When it's time for a play to be made, I feel like I am the guy to do it. I can go over the middle. I can go outside.
"I've gotten enough reps in practice at special teams. I know I can make an impact there."
Making an impact comes easy to Young, who hauled in 106 receptions and 14 touchdowns the past two seasons for the Illini. During his junior year, the one-time quarterback averaged 17.8 yards per reception.
Not bad for a guy who was recruited to throw the football.
"I came in with Kurt Kittner, who now plays for the Falcons, and he won the starting job right off the bat. I didn't want to sit for four or five years and hope to play at quarterback, so I said, "I've got to move.'
"It was kind of tough just getting used to the speed of the game. I had never played receiver except when playing with friends. I had to get used to the constant running and wear and tear on your body. It took me a while, but I think I did it."
Did he ever. Young scored one of his six touchdowns as a senior against the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, giving the Illini a short-lived 10-6 lead early in the third quarter. He went on to earn All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention by the league's coaches.
As a seventh-round draft choice, Young comes into the NFL under the radar. In fact, while he was being selected, ESPN switched to coverage of Kevin Millwood's no-hitter in major league baseball, denying Young the thrill of seeing his name flash as the current draft choice.
"We joked about that, but I'm just happy to be drafted," said Young. "They can play 10 baseball games for all I care."
Young won't, though. Baseball doesn't have special teams.
