Road to Success

It didn’t take like for wide receiver Colbie Young to make a strong first impression on quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. 

Young, who arrived from Lackawanna Junior College for the second summer session in July, needed time to get acclimated to the speed of the game and the South Florida heat, but while working with the third team offense during 7-on-7 work, he caught the attention of Van Dyke.

“Jacurri [Brown] threw a go ball to him, because he was with the third team at that point, and he went up and got it and I was like damn he has unbelievable ball skills.” Van Dyke said. 

Young has also made a strong first impression with his play in his first game action of the 2022 season as well. He did not receive a target in a game until week six against North Carolina, with most of his action coming in the fourth quarter. Young caught 3-of-4 targets for 43 yards in that game, including an impressive toe drag catch on the sideline and a 16-yard touchdown catch. 

The next week, Young earned his first start as a Hurricane and led the team with 13 targets, catching nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Young started the game making an impressive one-handed, juggling catch for 37 yards on the sideline early in the first quarter to spark the offense. 

Van Dyke made it clear he has full confidence in Young’s ability to make tough receptions. 

“I am not surprised he is doing this right now,” Van Dyke said. “He has been doing it since then in practice. He is a quiet kid, but he is hard working and always gets the job done.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Young caught 3-of-4 contested catch opportunities that came his way against Virginia Tech. As a bigger receiver at 6-feet-5 and 215 pounds, Young, who says the last time he clocked a 40 time was in the tenth grade and he clocked a high 4.6, says he likes to watch film of receivers with similar body types like Tee Higgins and Julio Jones. 

“Those bigger bodied receivers that can move and get in and out of cuts,” Young said. “I try to really influence my game after them.”

What has been the toughest adjustment for Young at this point in his UM career? Getting used to the warm South Florida climate and adjusting to the speed of Power Five football. 

“It was pretty difficult coming from a totally different offense and a different type of game speed at junior college,” Young said. “Getting up to the speed of the game in the ACC and getting used to the players and how they move was pretty difficult, but it was a great job by the team helping me move forward and never taking a step back.”

Young caught 24 passes for 472 yards with nine scores as a freshman at Lackawanna College last fall.