Freshman Spotlight: Bryce Young, Alabama

As we get ready for the 2020 season at CFB Saturdays we will be spotlighting some of the key freshman we expect to play a big role for their teams this season. We are looking at highly talented players who have an opportunity to play and make an impact this fall. Today we will put the freshman spotlight on Bryce Young and look at the Alabama Quarterback’s impact on the 2020 season.

Background

Bryce Young is the #2 ranked prospect in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. The star Quarterback from Santa Ana, Ca originally committed to USC but flipped his commitment to Alabama in September of 2019. Young was a standout in high school passing for over 4,500 yards and 58 TD in his senior season. He enrolled at Alabama in January of 2020 hoping to get a head start on his college career, unfortunately due to Co-Vid 19 spring ball was cut short across the country. Young arrives in Tuscaloosa with high expectations and has a chance to make an impact immediately due to of the departure of Tua Tagovailoa.

Scouting Report

Bryce Young is a creative player who has a feel for the game that cannot be coached. His ability to create space and plays stands out; he buys time and creates throwing lanes with his feet that most quarterbacks just cannot find. There is a flair to his game that keeps fans on the edge of their seat knowing any play could be the play. He is an accurate passer who places the ball where his receivers can make a play on it, even when covered. Young has good arm strength, showing the ability to throw the deep ball and make the underneath throws with the necessary zip and velocity. If Bryce was just a pocket passer his skills in that regard would standout enough to be a good college QB; but that is not all he is.

Bryce has very quick feet and changes directions well in short spaces creating nightmares for opposing defensive linemen as they try to zero in on him. He is a fluid athlete who pin-balls across the football field untouched, slaloming between defenders. Young is not necessarily a burner, its his agility that makes him an effective runner, but he has good speed and can pick up chunk plays on the ground. The biggest question with Bryce Young is his size, he is not tall nor is he a thickly built football player. He is listed at 5’11” and 183 lbs in his 247 sports profile and his slender frame is evident when watching his film. Smaller quarterbacks are more accepted now than they were in the past thanks to the success of guys like Russell Wilson and Drew Brees, but these guys are still the exception and not the rule. Young has the tools to make up for his lack of size but it could hinder him some in the passing game and from a durability standpoint.

Outlook

Tua Tagovailoa has left for the NFL and his younger brother, Taulia, is seeking a transfer out of Tuscaloosa. This leaves Mac Jones and Young as the likely contenders for the Tide’s starting QB spot. Jones played well when relieving Tua in 2019 but there was a noticeable difference between the two. We do not have Jones ranked in our Top 25 QBs and that’s partially because of Young’s expected emergence. We believe Young will take over for Jones this fall and become the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide; he is too good of a player and too much of a difference maker to have on the sidelines. He is likely a three and done player in College so red-shirting him would not really benefit Alabama.

Alabama had so many weapons in 2019 it was borderline comical. The Tide had two receivers drafted in the 1st round, and Devonta Smith could have been drafted in the 1st round as well had he decided to go pro. Smith is back and is a game breaking type talent, he will be paired with Jaylen Waddle who may not be the level of receiver Smith is, but is a big play machine with speed to burn. These receiver’s paired with our #3 RB Najee Harris and the return of Alex Leatherwood on the offensive line leaves plenty of talent for the new Qb to work with. Young will enhance the abilities of all these players with his accurate passing and ability to extend plays. He may not be the starter right off the bat, and Jones could hold him off, but Nick Saban has shown he will not hesitate to play the best QB even if he is a freshman. We feel strongly that Young will be the best option for Alabama in 2020.

To see other Freshman Spotlight Articles click here.

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