8/20/04

Two Minute Drill: Selvin Young

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Selvin Young is, among many other things, a seasoned and dependable running back. Serving at backup tailback in each of his two years at Texas, Young has played in 24 games and rushed for eight TDs. He's also accounted for 1,438 all-purpose yards, doubling as the Longhorns' top kickoff and punt-return man. Sure-handed and explosive, the true junior has already etched his name in UT's illustrious annals, becoming the first player in school history to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same season, much less the same game. Young pulled of that feat against New Mexico State, returning a kickoff 97 yards for the TD before scampering a punt return late in the game 39 yards to the house in the Longhorns' 66-7 rout of the Aggies in 2003. Back and healthy from a groin pull that sidelined him for two games in 2003, the Houston native checked in with MackBrown-TexasFootball.com to talk about the wisdom he's gained watching play from the sidelines and playing behind an All-American as well as the inside story on a tight competition for Longhorns' return-man position.

How are you feeling?
Are you healed and ready to go? Practice has been really good for me so far. For one thing, it's really good to be back and be healthy this year. My speed is back and my vision is great. When I was hurt last season, I got a chance to sit back and watch and the game slowed down for me. So, now I've got my legs back and my speed back and my vision is just that much better.

How competitive is it for the kickoff and punt return positions right now?
It's definitely open right now. Coach [Duane] Akina (co-Defensive Coordinator) hasn't made any decision on who's going to be handling the kickoffs and punts this season. Hopefully I get the nod. I've got a little bit of veteran leadership that I bring to the return game. But we'll see. I'm doing the best I can do. It'll be fun this year. Hopefully we can break some records.

Playing behind Cedric Benson at tailback the last two years, has he helped you grow in that position?
Yeah, we've got a great duo going with Cedric and I at tailback. I've learned a whole lot from him. He's got an engine that never stops. When he's in there, he never stops going, his legs keep churning and it's real hard on those defenders to bring him down. I just try to be model myself just like that. Sometimes when I ran, I felt like I could just outrun people, but now I learned I've got the strength to run into people and keep on going.

How nice is it to be running behind a veteran offensive line like this?
Oh, it's really great. Those guys on the offensive line have really come along. The o-line is looking great right now. So, yeah, I just can't wait to run behind them.