Villanova Product, Now Washington Redskin Darrel Young, Ready For Match-Up With Eagles
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Darrel Young spent his college football career as an outstanding linebacker/safety at Villanova, playing for head coach Andy Talley.
But he's made his living in the NFL on the other side of the football. He is in his fifth season as a fullback for the Washington Redskins and he is getting ready to match-up with the Eagles on Saturday.
Young has been a steady performer in a frustrating season down in D.C. Washington brings a 3-11 record into Saturday's game.
"Honestly, this years been rough," Young tells KYW Newsradio. "We're in a situation right now where we're not where we want to be, record wise. But the only thing we can do is be positive and try to win out the last two games, going forward into next season."
Listen to Darrel Young with KYW's Matt Leon:
The 27-year-old Young has caught 9 passes this season for 69 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scoring catches came in the first Eagles/Redskins match-up back on September 21st. It was a four-yard pass thrown by Kirk Cousins in a game the Eagles won at the Linc, 37-34.
"Looking at the film, last time we let them off the hook with some things," Young says. "We didn't convert in some situations and kind of hurt ourselves early on. Played catch-up in the end, we were able to tie it up, 27-27. You know at the end of the game they made plays when it counted to win the game."
Young says their offense will have its hands full in Saturday's rematch.
"Their defense is relentless," Young says. "They've got guys who make plays. Connor Barwin's probably having the best year of his career. They lost De'Meco (Ryans) for the season, but Mychal Kendricks stepped up, Casey Matthews, another guy who doesn't get a lot of attention because of his brother, but at the same time is a really good football player. They do some good things on the back end, they play together. Malcolm Jenkins is having a really good year as well."
Young finished his career at Villanova with 19.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 blocked kicks and an interception and he says he has a lot of memories from his time on the Main Line.
"Just the camaraderie among the teammates," Young says. "I talk to a lot of the guys still. The memories on the field that you have. Going to the playoffs the one year (2008), just all the things you did. Even going back to my freshmen year, just seeing the improvement, and seeing guys improve and just getting better in terms of understanding the game."
Young is also making an impact off the field with the Redskins as he was recently named Washington's 2014 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
Saturday's Eagles/Redskins game will kickoff at 4:30pm in Landover, Maryland.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
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