Hall of Fame
Position: Halfback
Years: 1944, 1946
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Date of Birth: Jan 05, 1926
Place of Death: Terrell, TX
Date of Death: Sep 04, 1983
Jersey Number: 66
Height: 5-5
Weight: 163
High School: Chicago, IL (Englewoood HS)\rChicago, IL (Wendell Phillips HS)
They compared diminutive "Buddy" Young to the legendary "Red" Grange, and few laughed at Illinois football followers who dared such a comparison. Indeed, the 5-5, 163-pound Young had matched many of Grange's school records in a career peppered with long, foot-dazzling runs. In 1944, Young scored 13 touchdowns to match Red's 20-year-old record. Buddy rushed for an average of 8.9 yards a carry that season, finishing second among the nation's ball carriers. Gifted with blinding speed, Young ran the 100 yards in 9.5 seconds and once tied the existing world 60-yard indoor dash record with a time of 6.1 seconds. Buddy was an All-America selection in 1944 and, after a year in the Navy, returned to lead the Illini to the Big Ten Championship in 1946. Young launched a nine-year professional career, playing for teams in New York, Dallas, and Baltimore. As a pro, Buddy scored 44 touchdowns and gained 9,419 yards, an average of more than 1,000 yards per season. The Chicago native later served on the staff of the National Football League Commissioner.
