Craig Young (American football)

Craig Young (born March 13, 2001)^[1] is an American professional football player who is a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Craig Young

No. 47 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(2001-03-13) March 13, 2001 (age 24)[1] Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Wayne (Fort Wayne)
College:	Ohio State (2019–2021) Kansas (2022–2023)
NFL draft:	2024: undrafted
Career history
Indianapolis Colts (2024)* Pittsburgh Steelers (2024)* Cincinnati Bengals (2024–present)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life and high school

Young attended high school at Wayne. In Young's junior season, he hauled in 29 receptions for 367 yards and four touchdowns, while also making 27 tackles, a sack and a half, and three interceptions.^[2] Coming out of high school, Young was rated as a three star recruit where he held offers from schools such as Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.^[3] Ultimately, Young committed to play college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.^[4][5]

College career

Ohio State

In Young's first two seasons in 2019 and 2020, he appeared in 14 games notching eight tackles.^[6] In week twelve of the 2021 season, Young recorded three tackles with half a tackle being for a loss in a win over Michigan State.^[7] Young finished the 2021 season playing in 12 games where he notched 15 tackles, half a sack, a pass deflection, an interception, and a touchdown.^[8] After the conclusion of the 2021 season, Young entered the NCAA transfer portal.^[9][10]

Young finished his career at Ohio State recording 23 tackles with half a tackle being for a loss, two interceptions, and a touchdown.^[11]

Kansas

Young transferred to play for the Kansas Jayhawks.^[12][13] In week three of the 2022 season, Young recorded seven tackles with one going for a loss, and a sack in a win over Houston.^[14] In the 2022 season, Young notched 60 tackles with five and a half being for a loss, four and a half sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble.^[15] In Young's final season in 2023, he posted 41 tackles with five being for a loss, a sack and a half, three pass deflections, and an interception.^[16] After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Young declared for the 2024 NFL draft and accepted an invite to the 2024 Hula Bowl.^[17]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in (1.84 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	33 in (0.84 m)	9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m)	4.57 s	1.66 s	2.64 s	4.47 s	7.27 s	37 in (0.94 m)	10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
All values from Pro Day[18]

Indianapolis Colts

After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, Young signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.^[19][20][21] He was waived on August 27, 2024.^[22]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On October 16, 2024, Young signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.^[23] He was released on November 5.

Cincinnati Bengals

On December 24, 2024, Young was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.^[24] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 7, 2025.^[25]