Finding productive undrafted rookies is rare in the PLL. Finding a productive undrafted offensive rookie is even rarer. But the Denver Outlaws struck gold in the post-draft waiver process when they added Richmond star Dalton Young.

Young has played well since debuting in Week 2. Head coach Tim Soudan praised his performance multiple times early in the season, but the rookie hadn’t fully broken out at the professional level yet. 

That’s what happened last Friday against the Philadelphia Waterdogs.

Young scored a hat trick and added a pair of assists, leading Denver in scoring in its 15-13 win over the Waterdogs. He continued doing a lot of the things he did well to start the season, but the Outlaws tweaked his usage to make him even more productive.

When Denver gained possession after a faceoff or in early transition, Young was always the first person out of the box. This change to the substitution pattern allowed the undrafted rookie to get more touches and get more involved in early offense.

“This week, I was like, any short-clock faceoff win, we're going to send Dalton Young out there,” Soudan said, “and then we're going to give him an opportunity, low clock, just to create, and it just gave him more touches tonight.”

Dalton Young has been making plays all season, but Friday was his breakout game with five points (3G, 2A). Getting him the ball early out of the box was a big reason for the breakout pic.twitter.com/vuvYnjr0Ns

— Topher Adams (@Topher_Adams) July 24, 2024

After years of being at the top of the scouting report in college, Young is only facing short sticks at the pro level. These favorable matchups are allowing him to dodge time and time again. When he dodges these matchups, he wins more often than not.

Playing in more early offensive sets allowed Young to initiate the offense more often. When he starts the offense with a dodge, it either gives him a clean look at goal or unsettles the defense and gives Denver an early advantage.

Young is a midfielder now, but he played attack in college. The transition hasn’t always been easy, but the more he plays from up top, the more comfortable he gets, especially as a shooter.

“It definitely was different being above the goal a lot and not used to taking a lot of those shots, and now putting a few in the back of the net definitely helps with the confidence,” Young said.

If Young can consistently threaten the goal from above the cage, that would make him a real X-factor. He was already excellent at inverting and attacking from behind, and that’s still a big part of his game. But adding that midfield threat makes him more dangerous, especially in early sets.

As Young grows into his role with the Outlaws, he’s developing more on-field chemistry with Denver’s offensive core. He started running more two-man games with Josh Zawada and Eric Law, especially behind the goal.

I'm extremely intrigued by Dalton Young two-man games moving forward. A lot of room to explore in this area pic.twitter.com/hhxsU7EHyV

— Topher Adams (@Topher_Adams) July 24, 2024

These sets are another wrinkle to use Young’s on-ball playmaking in different areas of the field while also freeing up the other attackmen.

Young’s breakout performance was just the latest standout game from the Outlaws’ young offensive core. Brennan O’Neill has flashed generational talent, Graham Bundy Jr. is already one of the scariest shooters in the league, and Zawada is already a key fixture in the attack line.

As Young has settled into his place in the offense, he looks like one of those pieces Denver can build with now and moving forward.