Eli Drinkwitz reveals Zion Young’s status for Gator Bowl following arrest
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Eli Drinkwitz told reporters during his press conference on the eve of Saturday night’s Gator Bowl that Mizzou defensive end Zion Young will be able to play in Jacksonville, according to a report by The Daily Progress’s Greg Madia.
The Mizzou head coach revealed that Young, who was arrested on Dec. 13 on charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding and failure to properly affix his license plate, will play against Virginia in what will be the final game of his collegiate career.
The Tigers and Cavaliers will kick it off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC in a showdown between SEC and ACC teams, and the senior Young will suit up despite his personal troubles over the past 2 weeks. Young was released on summons and not formally charged, but the Atlanta native is hardly out of the woods regarding the matter. He’ll be required to appear in court, though the time and date of his court appointment has not been determined.
Young is a transfer from Michigan State who has blossomed into a starting player for Eli Drinkwitz‘s program during each of the past 2 years. He had 38 total tackles, 19 of them solo, this fall, along with 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass deflections.
Next spring’s NFL Draft could be a big moment for Young, who could potentially be one of the top defensive ends selected to play on Sundays. Young has already accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 31, when he’ll be on display for NFL scouts in the leadup to the draft.
On Saturday night, Young will also be on display, as his head coach revealed on Friday.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
