Player Detail

BENJI YOUNG
Linebacker
1992 / 1996
Rock Hill, SC

Biography
A much decorated linebacker at Northwestern, Young was named All-Region and All-State as a senior. He was named captain of the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team that defeated North Carolina 13-10 in ’91. Young chose South Carolina over Clemson and Penn State. He played right away as a true freshman, making 37 tackles on special teams and as a backup linebacker, then redshirted in 1993. Young spent 1994 as the top backup to Aubrey Brooks at a inside linebacker spot and as one of the leaders of Carolina’s special teams units. He also picked off a pass against Clemson and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown in the Gamecocks’ 33-7 win. He played a similar role in 1995, backing up Ronnie Smith and again performing as a special teams standout. A sprained ankle limited his effectiveness some, but he started some and played regularly on passing downs. Young again found the end zone in ’95, returning a blocked punt for a score in the blow out of Kent State. He became a full-time starter in 1996, winning the Joe Morrison Award as the top defensive player in the spring and then was named a captain of the ’96 squad. Young went on to have a big season, being namsed SEC Defensive Player of the Week in a win over Arkansas as he had 11 tackles, one for loss, broke up a pass, forced a fumble and had a quarterback pressure. He also picked off a pass against Vanderbilt that setup a Gamecock TD in a 27-0 win. At the end of the season Young was given the George Terry Best Attitude Award and the Steve Wadiak MVP. Young went into coaching and is head track coach at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C.

Biography

A much decorated linebacker at Northwestern, Young was named All-Region and All-State as a senior. He was named captain of the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team that defeated North Carolina 13-10 in ’91. Young chose South Carolina over Clemson and Penn State. He played right away as a true freshman, making 37 tackles on special teams and as a backup linebacker, then redshirted in 1993. Young spent 1994 as the top backup to Aubrey Brooks at a inside linebacker spot and as one of the leaders of Carolina’s special teams units. He also picked off a pass against Clemson and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown in the Gamecocks’ 33-7 win. He played a similar role in 1995, backing up Ronnie Smith and again performing as a special teams standout. A sprained ankle limited his effectiveness some, but he started some and played regularly on passing downs. Young again found the end zone in ’95, returning a blocked punt for a score in the blow out of Kent State. He became a full-time starter in 1996, winning the Joe Morrison Award as the top defensive player in the spring and then was named a captain of the ’96 squad. Young went on to have a big season, being namsed SEC Defensive Player of the Week in a win over Arkansas as he had 11 tackles, one for loss, broke up a pass, forced a fumble and had a quarterback pressure. He also picked off a pass against Vanderbilt that setup a Gamecock TD in a 27-0 win. At the end of the season Young was given the George Terry Best Attitude Award and the Steve Wadiak MVP. Young went into coaching and is head track coach at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C.

Prior Schools
School	Location

Roster Listings
Year	Roster	Num	Pos	Ht	Wt	Yr	Gms	GS
1992	Media Guide	49	LB	6-1	200	Fr	0	0
1993	Spring 1993	49	ILB	6-1	200	So
1993	Program vs Vanderbilt	49	ILB	6-1	200	So	0	0
1994	Spring 1994	49	ILB	6-0	193	So
1994	Program vs Mississippi State	49	ILB	6-0	193	So	0	0
1995	Media Guide	49	ILB	6-0	203	Jr	5	5
1996	Program vs Georgia	49	LB	6-0	213	Sr	11	11

Depth Chart Appearances
Description	Position	Rank
Official Spring Depth Chart 4/7/1993	Inside Linebacker
9/3/1994 vs. Georgia	Linebacker	3rd String
10/15/1994 vs Mississippi State	Linebacker	2nd String
1995 Media Guide	Inside Linebacker	2nd String
9/2/1995 vs Georgia	Linebacker	2nd String
9/14/1996 vs Georgia	Outside Linebacker	Starter

Honors
Award	Year
1991	Shrine Bowl
1996	George Terry Best Attitude
1996	Rex Enright - Captain's Cup
1996	Steve Wadiak MVP

Defense
Year	Solo	Ast	Tkl	TFL	Sacks	Int	PBU	QBH	FR	FF	BK	IP	CDS	RZS	IPP	YPT
1992	18	19	37	2.0	0.0		0	0	0	0	0	6	1	1	17.68	5.09
1994	23	13	36	0.0	1.0	1	2	0	0	0	0	9	2	1	26.93	5.14
1995	44	26	70	2.0	4.0		2	0	0	0	0	29	8	1	61.88	3.19
1996	56	28	84	4.0	2.5	1	2	5	0	1	0
Tot	141	86	227	8.0	7.5	2	6	5	0	1	0	44	11	3	106.49

IP - Impact Plays; CDS - Conversion Down Stops (3rd & 4th Down); RZS - Red Zone Stops; IPP - Impact Play Points; YPT - Yards Per Tackle

Punt Returns
Year	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD
1995	1	17	17.0	1
Tot	1	17	17.0	1

Games Started
Date	Opponent	Position
1995-09-23	Kentucky	Inside Linebacker
1995-10-21	Vanderbilt	Inside Linebacker
1995-10-28	Tennessee	Inside Linebacker
1995-11-11	Florida	Inside Linebacker
1995-11-18	Clemson	Inside Linebacker
1996-09-07	Central Florida	Outside Linebacker
1996-09-14	Georgia	Outside Linebacker
1996-09-21	East Carolina	Outside Linebacker
1996-09-28	Mississippi State	Outside Linebacker
1996-10-05	Auburn	Outside Linebacker
1996-10-12	Kentucky	Outside Linebacker
1996-10-19	Arkansas	Outside Linebacker
1996-10-26	Vanderbilt	Outside Linebacker
1996-11-02	Tennessee	Outside Linebacker
1996-11-16	Florida	Outside Linebacker
1996-11-23	Clemson	Outside Linebacker

Scoring Plays
Date	Opponent	Qtr	Time	USC	Opp	Play
1994-11-19	Clemson	4	00:57	33	7	Benji Young, 27-yd interception return (kick failed)
1995-10-07	Kent State	2	14:14	28	0	Benji Young, 17-yd blocked punt return (Reed Morton kick)

Defense - Sacks
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1994	1994-09-24	Kentucky	3	11	USC	18	Antonio O'Ferral sacked for loss of 9 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-30	LSU	2	9	USC	23	Jamie Howard sacked for loss of 11 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-30	LSU	3	10	LSU	28	Jamie Howard sacked for loss of 7 (Maynard Caldwell, Benji Young)
1995	1995-10-07	Kent State	2	11	KNT	33	O'Brien sacked for loss of 7 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-10-07	Kent State	2	6	KNT	25	O'Brien sacked for loss of 7 (Benji Young)

Defense - Tackles For Loss
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1992	1992-09-26	Kentucky	3	4	USC	4	Redd rush for loss of 2 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-11-14	Florida	2	6	FLA	24	Errict Rhett rush for loss of 1 (David Turnipseed, Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-02	Georgia	1	10	USC	48	Robert Edwards rush for loss of 5 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	1	10	LAT	24	Armstrong rush for loss of 4 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	3	3	USC	37	Austion rush for loss of 2 (Benji Young, Arturo Freeman)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	3	3	USC	37	Austion rush for loss of 2 (Benji Young, Arturo Freeman)
1995	1995-11-18	Clemson	1	10	CLM	41	Lamont Pegues rush for loss of 1 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-18	Clemson	1	10	USC	46	Raymond Priester rush for loss of 1 (Benji Young)

Defense - Interceptions
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1994	1994-11-19	Clemson	2	18	CLM	21	Louis Solomon pass intercepted by (Benji Young) returned 27 yards for a touchdown

Defensive Plays
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1992	1992-09-05	Georgia	1	10	UGA	39	Garrison Hearst rush for 8 (Benji Young, Ron Nealy)
1992	1992-09-05	Georgia	2	1	USC	40	Garrison Hearst rush for 2 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-09-12	Arkansas	2	7	ARK	40	E.D. Jackson, 6-yd pass from Allen (David Turnipseed, Benji Young)
1992	1992-09-12	Arkansas	3	1	ARK	46	E.D. Jackson rush for 11 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-09-12	Arkansas	2	1	USC	8	Savage rush for 4 (Jahmal Pettiford, Benji Young)
1992	1992-09-19	East Carolina	3	6	ECU	37	Letcher, 11-yd pass from Michael Anderson (Benji Young)
1992	1992-09-26	Kentucky	1	10	USC	39	Collins rush for 3 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-10-03	Alabama	1	10	USC	14	Chris Anderson rush for 8 (Keith Franklin, Benji Young)
1992	1992-10-03	Alabama	3	1	ALA	48	Martin Houston rush for 5 (Benji Young, Rocky Clay, Ronnie Smith)
1992	1992-10-03	Alabama	2	10	USC	46	Derrick Lassic rush for 4 (Chris Rumph, Benji Young)
1992	1992-10-17	Mississippi State	3	2	USC	41	Greg Plump rush for 4 (Benji Young) - MS holding
1992	1992-10-17	Mississippi State	1	10	MST	28	Davis rush for 9 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-10-17	Mississippi State	1	10	USC	42	Kenny Roberts rush for 4 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-10-17	Mississippi State	1	10	MST	40	Willie Harris, 8-yd pass from Greg Plump (Benji Young)
1992	1992-10-24	Vanderbilt	1	22	VAN	29	Wilham rush for 5 (Benji Young, Tony Watkins)
1992	1992-10-24	Vanderbilt	1	10	USC	47	Wilson rush for 7 (Benji Young)
1992	1992-11-07	Louisiana Tech	2	3	USC	32	Jason Davis rush for no gain (Benji Young)
1992	1992-11-14	Florida	1	10	FLA	30	Errict Rhett rush for 7 (Benji Young, David Turnipseed)
1992	1992-11-14	Florida	1	10	FLA	45	Errict Rhett rush for 6 (Benji Young, Tony Watkins)
1992	1992-11-14	Florida	1	10	FLA	20	Kelvin Randolph rush for 4 (Benji Young, Ernest Dixon)
1992	1992-11-14	Florida	1	10	FLA	38	Errict Rhett rush for 4 (Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-03	Georgia	1	10	USC	44	Eric Zeier scrambles for 3 (Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-03	Georgia	3	11	UGA	47	Brice Hunter, 13-yd pass from Eric Zeier (Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-03	Georgia	3	8	USC	19	Hason Graham, 4-yd pass from Eric Zeier, fumble, forced by (Benji Young) recovered by (Chris Rumph)
1994	1994-09-03	Georgia	2	14	UGA	31	Terrell Davis, 6-yd pass from Eric Zeier (Ronnie Smith, Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-03	Georgia	2	5	UGA	21	Terrell Davis rush for 8 (Stacy Evans, Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-03	Georgia	1	10	UGA	35	Terrell Davis rush for no gain (Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-24	Kentucky	1	10	UKY	7	Damon Hood rush for 4 (Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-24	Kentucky	2	9	UKY	21	L.Smith, 50-yd pass from Jeff Speedy, fumble, forced by (Terry Cousin) recovered by (Benji Young)
1994	1994-09-24	Kentucky	2	20	UKY	19	Gordon, 4-yd pass from Antonio O'Ferral (Benji Young)
1994	1994-11-12	Florida	1	22	USC	45	Danny Wuerffel rush for 13 (Benji Young)
1994	1994-11-12	Florida	1	22	USC	45	Fred Taylor rush for 6 (Benji Young)
1994	1994-11-12	Florida	3	3	USC	29	Chris Doering, 6-yd pass from Danny Wuerffel (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-02	Georgia	1	10		50	Torin Kirtsey rush for 7 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-09	Arkansas	3	16	ARK	22	J.J. Meadors, 22-yd pass from Barry Lunney (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-09	Arkansas	1	10	ARK	46	Madre Hill rush for 1 (Lee Wiggins, Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-09	Arkansas	2	21	ARK	34	Johnson rush for 9 (Ben Washington, Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-09	Arkansas	2	7	ARK	18	Madre Hill rush for 1 (Benji Young, Aubrey Brooks)
1995	1995-09-09	Arkansas	1	10	ARK	31	Hebert rush for 1 (Benji Young, Arturo Freeman)
1995	1995-09-09	Arkansas	1	10	USC	49	Nichols rush for 6 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	3	10	LAT	36	Armstrong, 10-yd pass from Martin (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	2	15	USC	29	Mackey, 8-yd pass from Martin (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	3	7	LAT	16	Jackson, no gain on pass from Burks (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	2	9	LAT	27	Ragsdale rush for 8 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-16	Louisiana Tech	1	10	LAT	37	Ragsdale rush for 4 (Benji Young, Jody Caldwell)
1995	1995-09-23	Kentucky	3	2	USC	40	Moe Williams rush for 1 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-23	Kentucky	2	8	UKY	9	Billy Jack Haskins rush for loss of 1, fumble, forced by (Lee Wiggins), recovered by (Benji Young) at UK 8
1995	1995-09-30	LSU	1	1	USC	1	Kendall Cleveland rush for no gain (Benji Young)
1995	1995-09-30	LSU	1	8	USC	8	Kevin Faulk rush for 5 (Benji Young, Ben Washington)
1995	1995-10-07	Kent State	3	6	KNT	28	Goebbel rush for 1 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	3	11	MST	30	Taite run for 10 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	1	10	MST	43	McGee rush for 2 (Benji Young, Ronnie Smith)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	1	10	USC	45	McGee rush for no gain (Benji Young, Ben Washington)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	3	11	MST	30	Derrick Taite scrambles for 10 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	3	8	MST	30	Coleman, 13-yd pass from Taite (Benji Young, Ben Washington)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	1	10	MST	43	McGee rush for 2 (Benji Young, Ronnie Smith)
1995	1995-10-14	Mississippi State	1	10	USC	45	McGee rush for no gain (Benji Young, Ben Washington)
1995	1995-11-11	Florida	1	10	FLA	15	Ike Hilliard, 10-yd pass from Danny Wuerffel (Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-11	Florida	2	19	FLA	3	Chris Doering, 23-yd pass from Danny Wuerffel (Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-11	Florida	1	15	USC	30	Williams, 5-yd pass from Wuerffel (Aubrey Brooks, Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-11	Florida	4	1	FLA	38	Eric Kresser rush for 1 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-18	Clemson	1	10	USC	40	Lamont Pegues rush for 2 (Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-18	Clemson	2	8	CLM	22	Tony Horne, 14-yd pass from Nealon Greene (Benji Young)
1995	1995-11-18	Clemson	1	8	USC	31	Nealon Greene rush for 4 (Benji Young) + SC face mask
1995	1995-11-18	Clemson	1	7	USC	7	Raymond Priester rush for 2 (Benji Young)