He could be the No. 1 overall pick in NFL Draft next April, but would it benefit Bryce Young to return to Alabama next season?
The junior quarterback accomplished a lot in three years. He won several individual awards, including a Heisman Trophy, Manning Award, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, and Sporting News College Football Player of the Year. Young is second all-time in school history for career passing yards (8,035) and third for passing touchdowns (75). He grabbed Alabama’s single-season school record holder for passing yards (4,782) and touchdown passes (47) in 2021. The 6-foot, 194-pounder guided the Crimson Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship in 2021 and nearly a College Football Playoff National Championship. He has a CFP National Championship ring from being a backup to Mac Jones in 2020, but former Tide running back Trent Richardson feels Young needs to return to school for his senior season.
RELATED: Alabama kicker accepts invitation for Reese’s Senior Bowl
Richardson stated this on The Developmental Focus Points, a new show on The Bama Standard with Bo Scarbrough.
Richardson declared for the 2012 NFL Draft after three seasons at Alabama. He arrived as a five-star from Florida in the 2009 signing class. Richardson dominated college football in 2011, setting a then single-season school record with 1,679 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He paced the Tide to a BCS National Championship in 2011. Richardson told Scarbrough and Blake Sims the reason he declared early for the draft was that he had two children. His mindset was three years and off to the league. Richardson said he would have come back to Alabama for 2012 if Eddie Lacy was not ready to take over, but Lacy was prepared to be the guy.
“If I was him (Bryce Young), especially with the NIL and stuff they have now, when I was in school I had no choice,” Richardson said on the difference between him and Young deciding for the NFL Draft. “You heard guys like me and others say, ‘Man I am three and out.’ That was a different mindset we had. You don’t hear guys that anymore. They are enjoying the whole process. If I was him, I would not leave because I don’t have that national championship on my own. I don’t have a national championship as the head guy yet, and then the league is not going anywhere. Why would you leave? You still have work to do. I’m telling you, those guys don’t see it and don’t get it. It is not family oriented at the next level. They are business and when you get to the business side of something you love to do it becomes work. It becomes ‘this is not what I thought it would be.’ I would not be able to leave if I did not win a national championship.”
Richardson mentioned almost coming back to Alabama for his senior year to win the Heisman.
He was a Heisman finalist in 2011. Young is missing a national championship as a starting quarterback from his impressive resume. It would be a tough move to pass up the NFL Draft; however, Richardson makes a valid point for Young.
Young received permanent team captain honors after the regular season.
We will see what happens after the Sugar Bowl. Young graduated Friday with his bachelor’s degree in three years.
Click here to follow the Bama Elite Podcast
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
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.
