Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple's Young Now Older, Wiser
8.13.15 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - A phrase often heard around the Edberg-Olson football facility is "TEMPLE TUFF." It's one of the mottos of the Temple football program, identifying the strength and resilience, physical and mental, that the Owls need to display for success. Head coach Matt Rhule and his assistants preach it every day to the student-athletes to create better football players, men, scholars, and citizens.
One player who really embodies Temple Tuff is senior defensive back Tavon Young. The three-year letterwinner has become a mainstay on the elite Owls defense and an anchor of an unheralded secondary. Since arriving on North Broad in 2012, he has suited up for all but one game of his career. While starting every game in 2014, he earned the #1 jersey, the honor bestowed by teammates on the toughest player on the team, for 11 games. After intercepting a team-high four passes while scoring two return touchdowns (one interception, one fumble return), it's no wonder why teammate Avery Williams dubs him "Hawkeye" from the Marvel Universe.
Young joined Coach Rhule and a contingent from Temple for the American Athletic Conference media days in Newport, Rhode Island before camp started. He joined Kyle Friend, Matt Ioannidis, and Tyler Matakevich as student-athletes representing the team. Tavon took great pride in his role in Newport, "When coach chooses you to represent the team, it means you're a leader, you're a tough guy, you represent well, dress properly, and present yourself to the media well." Through the photo shoots and interviews, Tavon flashed his signature easy-going smile and calm demeanor.
On the field, Young doesn't take it easy on opponents. He enters this year with 20 starts, dating back to 2012 when he started his second overall game against Maryland, where he grew up. He contributed a sack and fumble recovery that day. His 5'10" frame puts him on the shorter end of defensive backs but he never underplays his size. Living outside Baltimore in Oxon Hills, he saw 5'11" Rod Woodson star for the Pittsburgh Steelers and later his beloved Ravens, en route to the Hall of Fame and a Super Bowl championship. Today he follows more physical corners like Cleveland's Joe Haden, a fellow Maryland native, and Arizona's Patrick Peterson. Young is a strong playmaker but does give credit to his teammates, notably the guys up front who can deflect balls that fall into his awaiting arms. "If it wasn't for them [the D-line] some of those passes wouldn't come out the way they did."
Young has become a success story in the new Temple regime. Coach Rhule has instilled a commitment to making plays and that's what Tavon does. In the season opener against Vanderbilt, he intercepted two Commodore passes as the Owls forced seven turnovers to win 37-7 in Nashville, Temple's first win over a SEC team since 1938. He would later return a pick 93 yards to open scoring in a win against UConn, and recover a fumble against East Carolina and return it 63 yards for a touchdown as the Owls upset the #21/19 nationally-ranked Pirates 20-10 at the Linc. On the field, he leads by example for a secondary that will see youth challenging upperclassmen for playing time during camp.
Maryland has become a huge hotbed for recruiting in the past decade. The state has six players listed in the top 150 of the ESPN 300 for the class of 2016, considered the best collegiate prospects of the incoming high school senior class. The success of those like Young and Williams is starting to resonate in their home state of Maryland. When he goes home to Potomac High School, Young shares his stories with those looking to play college football. "I always tell kids it's a good place to be, they'll put you to the next level, make you a better man, they put you on the right path to a career and schoolwork." Since arriving as a freshman, Young notes he grew into a student of the game, spending more time in the film room reviewing opponents as his career took off. As he enters his final season at Temple, look for him to continue making impact plays while developing future playmakers. His will be a name to watch as the Owls try to make history in 2015.
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One player who really embodies Temple Tuff is senior defensive back Tavon Young. The three-year letterwinner has become a mainstay on the elite Owls defense and an anchor of an unheralded secondary. Since arriving on North Broad in 2012, he has suited up for all but one game of his career. While starting every game in 2014, he earned the #1 jersey, the honor bestowed by teammates on the toughest player on the team, for 11 games. After intercepting a team-high four passes while scoring two return touchdowns (one interception, one fumble return), it's no wonder why teammate Avery Williams dubs him "Hawkeye" from the Marvel Universe.
Young joined Coach Rhule and a contingent from Temple for the American Athletic Conference media days in Newport, Rhode Island before camp started. He joined Kyle Friend, Matt Ioannidis, and Tyler Matakevich as student-athletes representing the team. Tavon took great pride in his role in Newport, "When coach chooses you to represent the team, it means you're a leader, you're a tough guy, you represent well, dress properly, and present yourself to the media well." Through the photo shoots and interviews, Tavon flashed his signature easy-going smile and calm demeanor.
On the field, Young doesn't take it easy on opponents. He enters this year with 20 starts, dating back to 2012 when he started his second overall game against Maryland, where he grew up. He contributed a sack and fumble recovery that day. His 5'10" frame puts him on the shorter end of defensive backs but he never underplays his size. Living outside Baltimore in Oxon Hills, he saw 5'11" Rod Woodson star for the Pittsburgh Steelers and later his beloved Ravens, en route to the Hall of Fame and a Super Bowl championship. Today he follows more physical corners like Cleveland's Joe Haden, a fellow Maryland native, and Arizona's Patrick Peterson. Young is a strong playmaker but does give credit to his teammates, notably the guys up front who can deflect balls that fall into his awaiting arms. "If it wasn't for them [the D-line] some of those passes wouldn't come out the way they did."
Young has become a success story in the new Temple regime. Coach Rhule has instilled a commitment to making plays and that's what Tavon does. In the season opener against Vanderbilt, he intercepted two Commodore passes as the Owls forced seven turnovers to win 37-7 in Nashville, Temple's first win over a SEC team since 1938. He would later return a pick 93 yards to open scoring in a win against UConn, and recover a fumble against East Carolina and return it 63 yards for a touchdown as the Owls upset the #21/19 nationally-ranked Pirates 20-10 at the Linc. On the field, he leads by example for a secondary that will see youth challenging upperclassmen for playing time during camp.
Maryland has become a huge hotbed for recruiting in the past decade. The state has six players listed in the top 150 of the ESPN 300 for the class of 2016, considered the best collegiate prospects of the incoming high school senior class. The success of those like Young and Williams is starting to resonate in their home state of Maryland. When he goes home to Potomac High School, Young shares his stories with those looking to play college football. "I always tell kids it's a good place to be, they'll put you to the next level, make you a better man, they put you on the right path to a career and schoolwork." Since arriving as a freshman, Young notes he grew into a student of the game, spending more time in the film room reviewing opponents as his career took off. As he enters his final season at Temple, look for him to continue making impact plays while developing future playmakers. His will be a name to watch as the Owls try to make history in 2015.
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