Young played college football at William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. While attending William Penn, he was a two-time 1st Team All-Conference defensive tackle. In 1969 and 1970, he was named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American. As a senior, Young was invited to play in the Chicago College All-Star Game. In addition to football, he also lettered and set a school record in the shot put for the track and field program. He graduated from William Penn in May 1971 with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. Young was inducted into the William Penn Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2002.
