TicketsWEST HARRISON, Ind. – When Luke Fickell analyzes defensive players, especially linebackers, one of the first things he looks for is how the player reacts when he gets knocked to the ground.
Once spring practice began, it didn't take the University of Cincinnati's first-year coach long to recognize that linebacker Perry Young was quick to get back on his feet to make a play.
"He's got that innate ability to not slow down when his mind isn't exactly sure what's going on," Fickell said Monday at the Higher Ground Retreat Center. "He's like a kangaroo or something. When he hits the ground, he is off the ground right now. That just kind of shows you that's innate in your system."
Young, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore from Birmingham, Ala., made an immediate splash last year at Higher Ground, even though he admits to being nervous when he first arrived. He was worried about what kind of impression he was making on the coaching staff because he wanted so badly to play right away.
A year later, he walks around like a self-assured veteran who's confident in his ability and ready to show the way for the younger players, much like departed middle linebacker Eric Wilson did for him last year.
"I was very nervous coming out here the first time," Young said. "It was very new. It was just a roller coaster honestly. I always wanted to be that kid that works harder. Every day when I didn't feel I worked hard enough, I'd get nervous. I'd start thinking crazy because I always want the coaches to be on my good side. If I didn't feel I played the best that I could I would stay after practice and work on the mistakes that I made during the practice."
Young quickly earned snaps with the second team and then the first, signs of good things to come for a 2-star recruit who would go on to play in all 12 of the Bearcats' games. He made 42 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and established himself as a bright spot for the future of UC's defense.
Now he's part of a linebacker group that lacks overall experience and depth. Middle linebacker Jaylyin Minor, who takes over for Wilson, is the only senior. Tyrell Gilbert, a Princeton High School graduate, is a junior, and Tyquan Statham is a redshirt freshman. That situation has thrust Young into a leadership role despite having only one year of experience.
"Everybody learns a little bit different and sometimes when you don't know things it slows you down," Fickell said. "He's a guy that doesn't slow down. Now there's other challenges to making sure that you just don't play on all your natural instincts and that you learn the game of football, but if you're building a guy, that's the way you'd rather go because they can still play at a young age and they can make adjustments and let their skill set play."
Fickell said he also likes what he's seen from Minor, one of the keys to success for the linebackers and the entire defense.
"Jaylyin's done a great job," Fickell said. "We put a lot of pressure on the middle linebacker. He has to be the quarterback of the defense, so there's a lot of things that he has to be able to do and it's not just understanding his job and his responsibility, but making sure that he can get everyone aligned and in sync.
"Tyquan (Statham) is doing a great job. In the spring you saw a couple flashes of days that I think he's got an opportunity. He's got to help us. And then Gilbert outside. I'd say right now it's pretty set. But we know we're going to have to play five or six guys."
One of those five or six is likely to be true freshman Jarell White from Cincinnati's La Salle High School. Fickell singled him out for praise last Friday after the final practice at Nippert Stadium before heading to Higher Ground and lauded him again Monday.
"You look for guys that have a passion to play and they're excited about the game," Fickell said. "They don't get worried or nervous like a lot of people do, like all of us do at times in a new environment, but he hasn't had that. We had him out there at the end a little bit (today) with the ones just because he doesn't slow down. He's like Perry. He's going to play the game fast and he's going to believe in his instincts."
When Young looks at White he sees someone who's in a situation similar to his a year ago, a talented young player looking to carve out his role at the next level, feeling his way to some extent, but still finding ways to impress the coaches on the field.
"I was in the same position last year," Young said. "He's still going to have a lot to learn, but I'm excited for him."
Young is also excited about the prospect of playing in a defensive system more designed to attack than to react as the Bearcats try to erase the memory of last year's disappointing 4-8 season.
"The potential of this group is really high," Young said. "We had a rough year last year, but we don't look back at that. We're all looking ahead. The past doesn't matter to us. We're just all focused on the future. The group that we have now, I just feel like we're going to have a lot of success. When the ball is hiked, we know our keys. We just play fast and attack. That's how our defense is set up."
Bill Koch covered UC athletics for 27 years – 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer – before joining the staff of GoBearcats.com in January, 2015.
Once spring practice began, it didn't take the University of Cincinnati's first-year coach long to recognize that linebacker Perry Young was quick to get back on his feet to make a play.
"He's got that innate ability to not slow down when his mind isn't exactly sure what's going on," Fickell said Monday at the Higher Ground Retreat Center. "He's like a kangaroo or something. When he hits the ground, he is off the ground right now. That just kind of shows you that's innate in your system."
Young, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore from Birmingham, Ala., made an immediate splash last year at Higher Ground, even though he admits to being nervous when he first arrived. He was worried about what kind of impression he was making on the coaching staff because he wanted so badly to play right away.
A year later, he walks around like a self-assured veteran who's confident in his ability and ready to show the way for the younger players, much like departed middle linebacker Eric Wilson did for him last year.
"I was very nervous coming out here the first time," Young said. "It was very new. It was just a roller coaster honestly. I always wanted to be that kid that works harder. Every day when I didn't feel I worked hard enough, I'd get nervous. I'd start thinking crazy because I always want the coaches to be on my good side. If I didn't feel I played the best that I could I would stay after practice and work on the mistakes that I made during the practice."
Young quickly earned snaps with the second team and then the first, signs of good things to come for a 2-star recruit who would go on to play in all 12 of the Bearcats' games. He made 42 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and established himself as a bright spot for the future of UC's defense.
Now he's part of a linebacker group that lacks overall experience and depth. Middle linebacker Jaylyin Minor, who takes over for Wilson, is the only senior. Tyrell Gilbert, a Princeton High School graduate, is a junior, and Tyquan Statham is a redshirt freshman. That situation has thrust Young into a leadership role despite having only one year of experience.
"Everybody learns a little bit different and sometimes when you don't know things it slows you down," Fickell said. "He's a guy that doesn't slow down. Now there's other challenges to making sure that you just don't play on all your natural instincts and that you learn the game of football, but if you're building a guy, that's the way you'd rather go because they can still play at a young age and they can make adjustments and let their skill set play."
Fickell said he also likes what he's seen from Minor, one of the keys to success for the linebackers and the entire defense.
"Jaylyin's done a great job," Fickell said. "We put a lot of pressure on the middle linebacker. He has to be the quarterback of the defense, so there's a lot of things that he has to be able to do and it's not just understanding his job and his responsibility, but making sure that he can get everyone aligned and in sync.
"Tyquan (Statham) is doing a great job. In the spring you saw a couple flashes of days that I think he's got an opportunity. He's got to help us. And then Gilbert outside. I'd say right now it's pretty set. But we know we're going to have to play five or six guys."
One of those five or six is likely to be true freshman Jarell White from Cincinnati's La Salle High School. Fickell singled him out for praise last Friday after the final practice at Nippert Stadium before heading to Higher Ground and lauded him again Monday.
"You look for guys that have a passion to play and they're excited about the game," Fickell said. "They don't get worried or nervous like a lot of people do, like all of us do at times in a new environment, but he hasn't had that. We had him out there at the end a little bit (today) with the ones just because he doesn't slow down. He's like Perry. He's going to play the game fast and he's going to believe in his instincts."
When Young looks at White he sees someone who's in a situation similar to his a year ago, a talented young player looking to carve out his role at the next level, feeling his way to some extent, but still finding ways to impress the coaches on the field.
"I was in the same position last year," Young said. "He's still going to have a lot to learn, but I'm excited for him."
Young is also excited about the prospect of playing in a defensive system more designed to attack than to react as the Bearcats try to erase the memory of last year's disappointing 4-8 season.
"The potential of this group is really high," Young said. "We had a rough year last year, but we don't look back at that. We're all looking ahead. The past doesn't matter to us. We're just all focused on the future. The group that we have now, I just feel like we're going to have a lot of success. When the ball is hiked, we know our keys. We just play fast and attack. That's how our defense is set up."
Bill Koch covered UC athletics for 27 years – 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer – before joining the staff of GoBearcats.com in January, 2015.