Ole Miss adds experienced FAU transfer Teja Young, an All-CUSA safety
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss football continues to make masterful moves when it comes to roster building, and the addition Tuesday of FAU transfer safety Teja Young is no exception.
Before the addition of Young, the Rebels’ transfer portal class was ranked No. 5 in the nation by 247Sports.
The 5-foot-11, 192 pound Young is from West Palm Beach, Florida. He entered the portal just a few weeks ago, didn’t waste any time finding his next home here in Oxford, announcing his decision on Twitter.
— Teja Young (@teja2k) June 6, 2023
Young was heavily pursued by both Florida State and North Carolina but chose to go with the Rebs.
Last season, Young was named team co-captain and saw action in 10 games, notching 48 total tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
In 2021, he accumulated 58 tackles, 34 of which were solo. That season, he also forced a fumble, recorded five pass breakups, and picked off five on his way to being named first-team All-CUSA.
Nobody is catching @teja2k! 💨
Pick Six FAU!@FAUFootball | #CUSAFB pic.twitter.com/t9if3EKM0Y
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 1, 2022
Young has earned nothing less than honorable mention All-CUSA each year with FAU.
In his career with the Owls, Young notched at total of 159 tackles, seven INTs and four pick-sixes. His four pick-sixes make him the all-time leader in that category for the Owls.
Young is a product of Palm Beach Lake High school where as a recruit he was ranked as a three-star prospect during the 2018 recruiting cycle; he originally committed to Colorado but later flipped to FAU.
There is no question that head coach Lane Kiffin, defensive coordinator Pete Golding, cornerbacks coach Keynodo Hudson and safeties coach Wes Neighbors have added yet another productive playmaker who can make an instant impact on the Rebels’ defense.
The addition of Young is especially important as Ole Miss looks to replace starting safeties AJ Finley and Otis Reese who are now in the NFL.
Welcome to the ‘Sip, Teja!
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.