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Rams’ Standout LB Byron Young proves he’s “more than an athlete”
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- Rams’ Standout LB Byron Young proves he’s “more than an athlete”
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Los Angeles Rams breakout star Byron Young is tearing it up in the NFL, but his biggest win just happened off the gridiron. The dominant outside linebacker returned to Knoxville over the weekend to walk across the stage and graduate from the University of Tennessee.
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For Young, this was far from a routine offseason milestone; it was a deeply personal mission. After flying under the academic radar in high school, he spent a year and a half working as an assistant manager at Dollar General before grinding his way through the junior college ranks. He eventually transferred to Tennessee, lighting up the SEC before the Rams selected him in the 2023 NFL draft.
Despite securing life-changing money in the pros, Young promised himself he would finish what he started, utilizing UT's Renewing Academic Commitment program to earn his degree in communication studies. The achievement makes him a proud first-generation college graduate.
"I always tell people, the hardest thing for me, just in general, is how people view me as 'just an athlete,'" Young said via the Rams' official website . "I'm more than that, and I really take pride in that."
While he is crushing his academic goals, his production for Los Angeles remains elite. Young has rapidly transformed into a foundational piece for the Rams' defense. During the 2025 NFL regular season, the dynamic pass rusher wrecked opposing game plans by racking up 81 total tackles, including 45 solo stops, and forcing a fumble across 17 games. He also paced the Rams' pass rush by bringing down quarterbacks for a team-high 12 sacks.
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By proving he can dominate both the film room and the classroom, the former Volunteer is shattering the standard athlete mold. Young's inspiring journey from the dollar store to the college stage and the NFL gridiron proves he is truly much more than just a guy who gets sacks.
Related: Rams HC Sean McVay reveals biggest regret of Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade
