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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.
Prior Schools
SchoolLocation


Roster Listings
YearRosterNumPosHtWtYrGmsGS
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
DescriptionPositionRank
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
AwardYear
1991 Shrine Bowl
1996 George Terry Best Attitude
1996 Rex Enright - Captain's Cup
1996 Steve Wadiak MVP
Defense
YearSoloAstTklTFLSacksIntPBUQBHFRFFBKIPCDSRZSIPPYPT
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
YearRetYdsAvgTD
1995 1 17 17.0 1
Tot 1 17 17.0 1
Games Started
DateOpponentPosition
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
DateOpponentQtrTimeUSCOppPlay
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
YearDateOpponentDownTo GoSideYdlinePlay
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
YearDateOpponentDownTo GoSideYdlinePlay
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
YearDateOpponentDownTo GoSideYdlinePlay
1994 1994-11-19 Clemson 2 18 CLM 21 Louis Solomon pass intercepted by (Benji Young) returned 27 yards for a touchdown
Defensive Plays
YearDateOpponentDownTo GoSideYdlinePlay
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)