Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
42: Brennan Young, LB (Sr.) — Houston Baptist
The Huskies have had multiple standout linebackers lately, and Young has been a sturdy presence in the middle of HBU’s defense for years.
“What we feel we have is a program that has developed into ‘Linebacker University’, going back to Garrett Dolan and Cody Moncure, both all-conference players and Garrett was a two-time All-American, to Langston Tunson to Caleb Johnson to a Freshman All-American sitting next me (Brennan Young), who has led the conference to Rodney Dansby,” head coach Vic Shealy said at Southland Conference media day. “That’s been the core of our defense.”
Young is an impact player going back to his freshman season in 2018. He tallied 55 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. He then earned 2019 HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors after racking up 124 tackles, 10 TFLs, one sack, two interceptions, and four pass breakups. His 11.3 tackles per game led the Southland and were No. 5 in the FCS.
HBU played four games in the 2020 fall, three against FBS opponents (North Texas, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech), and one against an FCS team (Eastern Kentucky). Young had 42 tackles, averaging 10.5 per game to rank 11th in the FCS. Last season was another productive one for the 6-foot, 220-pounder. He totaled 99 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, two sacks, one interception, and three quarterback hurries.
Young enters his fifth season as a significant contributor for the Huskies. He was named to the preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team last week.
