Young Named National Football Foundation Scholar

Nov. 1, 2001

Clemson, SC – Clemson center Kyle Young has been named as one of 16 recipients of a Postgraduate scholarship as selected by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The announcement was made Thursday by Chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Jon F. Hanson.

The Clemson graduate and starting center for the Tigers the last three seasons is the first Clemson football player to receive a scholarship from the National Football Foundation since 1978 when Steve Fuller was so honored.

Young is actually just the fifth Clemson football player to receive the honor overall. In addition to Fuller, the others are Jimmy Bell, a quarterback in 1964, Jimmy Addison, a quarterback in 1967, and Ben Anderson, a defensive back in 1972.

Young graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clemson last May and is taking graduate courses this year, his final year of eligibility. He had a 3.98 career GPA and had A’s in every course but one over his four undergraduate years. He has been a first-team Academic All-American each of the last two years and hopes to be a three-time selection this year. The Academic All-America team won’t be announced until December 3rd. He is also the President of Clemson’s LIFELINE organization, the football team’s leadership group.

On the field, Young has led the Clemson offensive line in knockdown blocks this year with 90. He is a big reason Clemson (5-2) has averaged over 400 yards per game in total offense and has had a positive effect on the play of Woodrow Dantzler, who ranks fifth in the nation in total offense heading into this weekend’s game with Florida State. Young was a second-team All-American on the field last year in addition to his first-team Academic All-America status.

“This is a great honor for Kyle and our football program,” said Head Coach Tommy Bowden. “Clemson has meant so much to Kyle and his family and I know this scholarship award is very meaningful to him. Having grown up in Clemson, he has been following or a part of Clemson football all his life. He is a role model for future Clemson football players and all student-athletes who are at Clemson now or will be in the future.”

Since 1959, when the first class was selected, 602 scholar-athletes have been awarded this high honor based on superior academic performance, outstanding football ability, strong leadership, and citizenship.

Each scholar-athlete will be awarded an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and will be honored at the Foundation’s 44th Annual Awards Dinner held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, December 11, 2001.

Young will be joined at the Awards Dinner in New York by Terry Kinard, the former Clemson All-American who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on the same night. Clemson is the only school in the nation with a Hall of Fame inductee and a National Football Foundation Scholarship Award winner this year.

National Football Foundation Scholars for 2001

DIVISION I-A Selections Andre Davis – Virginia Tech – Wide Receiver – Property Management -Niskayuna, NYVernon Fox – Fresno State University – Strong Safety – Sociology – LasVegas, NVJoaquin Gonzalez – University of Miami – Offensive Lineman – Marketing -Miami, FLChristopher Hope – Florida State University – Free Safety – Communications -Rock Hill, SCJeff Kelly – Univ. of Southern Mississippi – Quarterback – Business Administration – Hattiesburg, MSPatrick Ramsey – Tulane University – Quarterback – Accounting & Finance -Simsboro, LATracey Wistrom – University of Nebraska – Tight End – Mathematics – Webb City, MOKyle Young – Clemson University – Center – Secondary Education – Clemson, SC

DIVISION I-AAVince Huntsberger – University of Montana – Strong Safety – Biology /Pre-Medicine – Missoula, MTPeter Lee – Yale University – Quarterback – Economics – Chicago, ILAdam Waugh – Illinois State University – Linebacker – Political Science -Cullowhee, NC

DIVISION IICurry Dawson – Angelo State University (TX) – Defensive Tackle – Animal Science – Water Valley, TXEddie Key – Univ. of Southern Arkansas – Quarterback – Economics – Chicago, IL

DIVISION IIITravis Ahner – Carroll College (MT) – Defensive Back – Sociology – Helena, MTTimothy Hess – Widener University (PA) – Defensive Back – Accounting -Brookhaven, PA

NAIAEddie Eviston – Georgetown College (KY) – Quarterback – Accounting – Fort Thomas, KY