Why Watson Young Should Win Mr. Football 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our series on why each of the five finalists for the 2023 South Carolina Mr. Football award should win, there have been a whole bunch of impressive numbers thrown around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a number to help Daniel OL [player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young']'s case.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yep, one. That's how many games the Lions have lost to date in Young's tenure in the program. A quick breakdown: 10-0 (State Champions), 14-0 (State Champions), 12-1, 10-0. The Lions went just about three calendar YEARS without losing a game, then fell on a two-point conversion in the third round of the playoffs. Big-time playmakers came and went on both sides of the ball. Want to guess what one of the constants was?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young'] up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's been a force for the Lions since his career started. He was a two-time All-State player before his senior season started. He's a Shrine Bowl selection. And he can flat-out play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young has averaged grading out over 90 percent his season, and the Appalachian State commit has collected 23 knockdown blocks on the season. And he can play pretty much anywhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How versatile is Young? Film can't really do it justice. He can pass block. He excels at run blocking. He can pull. He buries guys at the line on one play, pushes them out of the back of the end zone on a play scrimmaging at the 5-yard line on the next. He gets way downfield and completes plays with the nasty streak that you love to see from an offensive lineman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While you can't see ALL of that unless you watch Young throughout a game, this bit of film might help. You'll see him play both left tackle, where Daniel needs him, and center, where he projects in college. Yes, in the same game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15157851/6520e22764e9f204bce899d2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6544191e5cbbf"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The four-year starter is also a coach's dream.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Watson has seen his efforts equate into multiple football scholarship opportunities and will have a chance to play at the collegiate level following his senior campaign," Daniel coach Jeff Fruster said. "On the field he leads by example, often taking time to bring teammates up to speed as well. Off the field, his demeanor and charismatic behavior make him a favorite among his teammates."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He also plays for a veritable South Carolina football blueblood. Daniel has a long history with the Mr. Football award, with both Trent Pearman and Tyler Venables earning finalist honors, and those are just the guys under Fruster who have done it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions have only had one previous winner, though, and that was way back in 1996. The only Daniel winner has been the only offensive lineman to date to win the award, too. He went on to be a two-time All-American at Clemson and is a guy you might've heard of: Kyle Young.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watson's dad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're looking for a perfect Mr. Football candidate, look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young']. Talent, character, tradition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's nobody better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>EDITOR'S NOTE:</strong> This is a five-part series breaking down the finalists for South Carolina's Mr. Football award for this fall. Our scouts have seen these players this season and in most cases have tracked them since the beginning of their varsity careers. The 2023 Mr. Football award will be announced and presented at halftime of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl on December 9 in Myrtle Beach.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 MR. FOOTBALL FINALISTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239076' first='Zion' last='Dobson']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zion-dobson/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;RB, Hampton County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/avery-mcfadden/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;WR, Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265222' first='Turbo' last='Richard']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/turbo-richard/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;RB, Northwestern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139295' first='Josiah' last='Thompson']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/josiah-thompson/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;OL, Dillon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young']</strong>&nbsp;OL, Daniel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->