TEMPE, Ariz. -- The city of Yuma is best known for its state prison. That makes sense to Arizona State junior Chris Young. His two years at Arizona Western College felt like solitary confinement.
"I was kind of iffy about even going," he said. "I never thought of myself going the junior-college route."
It wasn't the school or program that bothered Young. He learned many valuable skills as a safety, linebacker and student -- skills that are serving him well in Tempe. It was the lost opportunity that gnawed at him every night in that outermost of college football outposts.
The Seattle native had signed a letter of intent to play at Washington after his 2010 graduation from Auburn High. Problem was, Young didn't dot all his I's and cross all his T's.
"I had troubles getting my grades right, and I had SAT scores that didn't cut it for D-I colleges," he said. "It taught me a lesson about being accountable for going to class every day, doing my work, getting things done and prioritizing what needed to be in my life and what didn't."
Young had a terrific sophomore season at Arizona Western. He was named the Western States Football League Defensive Player of the Year, the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-American after racking up 111 tackles (30 for loss), 8.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and six defensive touchdowns.
Little did he know he was also amassing an odd assortment of job skills that would perfectly apply to his next position.
"The first thing coach (Todd) Graham wanted me to do when I came here was watch tape of our signings," ASU first-year co-defensive coordinator Ron West said. "I watched Chris' highlight tape, and when I did, there was no doubt what he was going to be doing for us."
Young's role with the Sun Devils is at the spur position, a hybrid of safety and linebacker -- and, if you believe Young, even cornerback duties. Both West and Graham have utilized the position in the past.
Nate Bussey, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, played the position for West at Illinois and was an All-Big Ten honorable-mention selection in 2010. Illinois senior Ashante Williams, who will be on Frank Kush Field on Saturday, also played the position for West. And Tramaine Billie filled the spur role for Clemson when West coached outside linebackers for the Tigers.
"The spur backer has to be an impact guy," West said. "He has to be a guy who can carry things vertical, play man coverage, outside-leverage man (coverage) and be an impact blitzer. He has to be a guy who can come off the edge and make things happen."
It is too early to say whether Young will be that guy on a consistent basis. He showed up all over the field in the club's preseason scrimmage at Camp Tontozona, and he showed up last week in a 63-6 win over Northern Arizona, posting a team-high 6.5 tackles (5 solo, 2.5 for loss) and a pass breakup.
But that was NAU, a team picked to finish in the lower half of the Big Sky Conference.
"Playing against NAU really didn't give me that feeling like I'm here, I've made it," Young said. "I think when I get into my first big D-I game (against Illinois on Saturday), I'll feel that."
Young does believe the position is a perfect fit since he played both safety and linebacker at Arizona Western. As a safety in 2010, he posted 57 tackles (11 for loss) and a sack.
"It really does play to my strengths and the type of athlete I am," he said. "My main goal is to set the edge and push the ball inside. If not, I'm making a play."
Young admits to feeling more comfortable in his linebacker and line-of-scrimmage duties than he does in coverage.
"Being in the box, being that linebacker, I just feel like you can never go wrong," he said. "I shed blockers, make the play and just hit. My ability is to hit. I love the physical aspect of football.
"When you have to back up and go into the coverage aspects, you have more of a press-'em-and bump-'em mentality. I guess I haven't reached that part of my athletic ability yet. It's not the hips, it's not the backpedaling. It's being able to read the receiver and being able to judge what he's going to do off certain steps or mechanisms he has coming off the ball. Being able to adjust to those things is going to be a work in progress for me."
West believes Young's reshaped body will help in that regard. Because Young worked so hard at building his strength, he reported to ASU at 240 pounds. He is down to 225, but his muscle mass is also much leaner, helping him manage the myriad athletic requirements of his position.
Young has already made a believer out of Graham, who thought linebacker Anthony Jones would man that position before Young just jumped off the films.
"I really feel like Anthony is one of our best 11," Graham said. "I really think that his best position is probably spur, but Chris is playing so well there that it is hard to take him out."
West would prefer to keep Young in on the action as much as possible.
"Last week, we blitzed him 21 or 22 times," he said. "He has to be able to pretty much lead your team in TFLs (tackles for loss), get sacks and create a lot of turmoil and problems with pressure. So far, he's showing that ability, and I have no doubt he'll continue to progress.
"He's a kid who tries extremely hard and is very conscientious. He cares about doing good things."
That list includes becoming the first person in his family to attend a four-year college.
"It's still amazing for them to see me on TV, because I'm one of them," Young said. "They'll be like, 'That's my son' or 'That's my nephew.'
"When I think about what could have happened to me, I feel really blessed to have this opportunity. I'm really proud of it."
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