Bryce Young proved many people wrong this season, including myself.
In replacing Mac Jones, the California native had an incredible year. He guided Alabama football to an SEC Championship and has the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff.
Young set school records, championship game records, became a permanent team captain and has represented the program with grace. He is leading a school that eyes back-to-back national championships for the first time under Nick Saban since 2011-12. Young became the sixth 3,000-yard quarterback of the Saban era and the second 4,000-yard passer with Jones.
He accounts for 4,322 passing yards and 43 touchdowns to four interceptions.
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Young is Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. The 6-foot, 194-pounder won SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Associated Press Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, and Maxwell Player of the Year honor.
He is now the fourth Tide player to win Sporting News’ Player of the Year.
The news came Thursday as Young joins Mark Ingram (2009), Tua Tagovailoa (2018), and DeVonta Smith (2020). Smith and Young were roommates last year. The two have brought Alabama back-to-back SEC Offensive Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, Heisman Trophy, and Sporting News Player of the Year honors. Young is also a Consensus All-American selection.
He will guide Alabama’s offense versus Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
