One of the most efficient and prolific quarterbacks in Alabama history, Bryce Young proved to be perhaps the best signal-caller in all of college football over the past two seasons, but will that transfer to the next level?
Here’s everything you need to know about the Crimson Tide’s leading man:
Vitals
Height: 6-0
Weight: 194
Class: Junior
Strengths
Young is an exceptional thrower of the football, showing tremendous touch, velocity, and accuracy. His quick release allows him to throw from just about any position or drop depth, and combined with a high level of football IQ and athleticism, it has led to the complete domination of college football during his two years as a starter with Alabama.
His arm talent mixes well with his elite agility and feet, which allow him to bounce between defenders who penetrate the offensive line, escape sacks, buy time with rollouts, and make plays outside the pocket. While Young can run with the football, he much prefers to use his legs to allow his receivers time to find an opening in the secondary, and deliver dimes down the field.
These elite characteristics allowed him to put up some of the best numbers in all of college football over the last two years, totaling 86 combined touchdowns, while maintaining a ridiculous 165.3 quarterback rating over that time. This is all while facing the highest level of competition at the collegiate level, and his play awarded him the Heisman trophy during the 2021 season.
Weaknesses
The most immediate thing that jumps out is his size, as Young is listed at 6-0 and under 200 pounds. There are going to be detractors, as he does not possess ideal height and weight for the position, and there’s really not anyone in the NFL who is built like he is, with Kyler Murray as the closest comparison.
Young will obviously build upon his weight and add strength as time goes on in the NFL, and should be able to get with trainers to make his body less injury prone by adding mass and getting closer to that 210 mark to help his durability.
Projection
Young was the best quarterback in college over the last two seasons, and it would be tough to look at his tape and see anything other than a top-level passer. His throwing talent, football IQ, and elite pocket manipulation project well to the next level, where he should continue to dominate and grow with time. There will be times that will have issues with his size as a deal-breaker, but the talent and production alone is clearly worth a high level of investment.
