Anyone who paid attention to the Senior Bowl in February could see this moment coming. Two SEC defensive players named Byron Young were expected to be selected in the NFL Draft, and they went just seven picks apart Friday night.
Alabama's Byron Young, a defensive tackle, gained bragging rights over his counterpart when he was taken 70th overall by the Raiders. That pick was enough to throw the family of Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young into a state of total confusion.
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The Vols' Young said his draft party erupted when Alabama's Young was drafted. "Everyone started yelling, but it wasn't me," he joked.
New Rams OLB Byron Young said there was some miscommunication amongst his family while watching the draft when the Raiders drafted Alabama DT Byron Young with the 70th pick.
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) April 29, 2023
"Everyone started yelling, but it wasn't me."
Seven picks later, his family could properly celebrate.
Fortunately, the awkwardness of that moment didn't last too long. Tennessee's Byron Young was selected 77th by the Rams, a great opportunity for him after Leonard Floyd's release earlier in the offseason thinned the depth chart.
He spoke to AL.com at the Senior Bowl about the coincidence, saying, "For us to both be playing on the D-line in the SEC at the same time, what are the chances?"
The Vols' Young said he first became aware of the Alabama defender early in his career, after fans started sending him congratulatory tweets intended for the Crimson Tide standout.
How did they deal with the confusion during Senior Bowl week? Tennessee's Byron Young said he told coaches to call him "BY."
Now both Byron Youngs are headed west, with one set to play in Las Vegas the other going to Los Angeles.
