Big Ten Football Top 150 Players: No. 103, Donovonn Young, Illinois

No. 103: Donovonn Young, No. 5, RB, Illinois
2011 Stats: 87 rushes, 451 yards, 6 TDs; 8 catches, 15 yards

Strengths

Donovonn Young burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2011, rushing for 451 yards and six scores in limited action. He's big enough at 6'0" and 215 pounds that Illinois can (and did) use him in short-yardage situations, but he's fast enough that he broke a 41-yard touchdown against South Dakota State. 

Weaknesses

Young's "burst" isn't great, and we haven't seen him get more than 12 rushes in a game yet. With his size, durability probably isn't a concern for him, but some guys struggle with more than 20 rushes week in and week out; some starting experience will be vital as he progresses. It'll be interesting to see how his style of running matures once he's no longer the "change of pace," but, well, the pace itself.

2012 Prediction

Illinois' offense is in such flux with new coach Tim Beckman in town and competition at all the positions that it's hard to lock Young in for 1,000 yards (or, more accurately, enough carries to get to 1,000 yards). Josh Ferguson should push Young for carries, although Young's ahead in that battle of sophomores-to-be.

Young should at least top 800 yards and get close to 10 touchdowns. And if Beckman settles on him as a feature back, we might be able to push those numbers up closer to 1,000 yards and 12 TDs.