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Offensive line coach Shawn Elliott has added some depth to the interior guard position with the signing of three-star offensive lineman Malik Young of Piedmont (S.C.) Woodmont. Young is rated the 16th-best player in the state and No. 31 offensive guard in the nation and was a 2013 Shrine Bowl selection.
The 6'3, 277-pound lineman committed to South Carolina in May 2013 after earning an offer from Coach Elliott, his first and only offer from a Division I program, after impressing the Gamecocks' staff during a summer camp. At the time the offer was extended, the 6'3, 277-pound lineman was just a two-star prospect, but Young has risen steadily in the recruiting rankings and is now considered a mid-three-star prospect.
Young and his Woodmont teammates encountered some adversity during his senior season, the low point of which occurred when Malik missed four games with a jaw injury sustained in a car crash. Despite the obstacles, in seven games at right guard, Young rated higher than any other lineman on his high school team. Young also displayed versatility during his prep career, as he played left tackle his sophomore year, then right guard his junior and senior campaigns.
Young will need a year to redshirt in 2014 while he continues to add to his 277 pound frame. He is also still learning the game of football--he's only been playing for three years--and will be the type of player Shawn Elliott can really develop. His natural athleticism, mean streak, and overall quickness will serve him well as he progresses during his tenure in Columbia. Look for Young to add depth in 2015 and challenge for playing time once senior Guard A.J. Cann leaves following the 2014 season.
