- Date Of Birth: April 29, 1960
- Date Of Death: October 15, 2015
- State: California
Tyrone Young, who was a star quarterback in Ocala who became an excellent wide receiver at Florida and in the NFL, died Thursday night after a long bout with cancer in San Diego. He was 55. San Diego, where he made his home after a two-year stint (1983-84) with the New Orleans Saints. Young contracted multiple Myeloma cancer, which affects the blood and bones, in 2004. Eventually, the cancer enlarged his heart and it finally stopped beating, according to his 2011, Young gave an interview with The Sun in which he talked about fighting back against the disease. But he also knew his fate.“This cancer is not a remission cancer,” he said then. “It’s never going away. I realize it’s going to take me out. But it’s not today and not tomorrow and not for a few years.”
Young was a star quarterback at Forest High School, where he was a part of two state championships, in 1974 and 1975. He went to Florida, played quarterback for a year and then was switched to wide player his teammates called “Big Slim” had his breakout game against Georgia in 1980 with 10 catches for 183 yards. His 10 catches are eighth all-time for a single game at UF and the 183 yards are tied for 13th in Florida history.
