Alabama Football: Tide staff all-in on Bryce Young for 2020 class

Apparently, the only 2020 quarterback recruit Alabama football is willing to accept a commitment from is current a USC commit, Bryce Young.

Recruiting quarterbacks is a precarious venture. Alabama football and much of CFB must deal with new transfer realities. In fairness to the players, quarterback is not a rotation position. There is ‘the guy’ and everybody else on a roster.

There is an old line using a fish analogy to comment on impatience. It says some people are like fish, they don’t keep (as in fresh enough to eat) well. Each new signing cycle is filled with 15-30 quarterbacks who consider starting no later than their second college season as the only viable option. Most of them do not keep well.

It almost never happens that two top QBs sign with the same school. Alabama football signed two last year. Neither was a Top 100 player. Paul Tyson was not close. he was ranked as the No. 321 player in the 2019 class. Tua’s little brother, Taulia Tagovailoa was more highly rated at No. 180.

Assuming Tua goes pro after the 2019 season and the Tide signs only one 2020 QB, Taulia and Tyson are likely to stick with the Crimson Tide. Whoever Nick Saban decides to sign in the 2020 class, Mac Jones will have the inside track to be the starting QB in 2020.

All of which takes us back to 5-Star, 2020 dual-threat QB and USC commit, Bryce Young. Young has guardedly said he is considering official visits to other schools. Beyond that, only conjecture suggests he could end up signing with Alabama football.

The ‘Young will flip’ argument has some substance behind it. Young likes Steve Sarkisian. The development of Tua Tagovailoa also impresses him. His family may want him to stay on the west coast, but no doubt they also want him at a school that will prepare him for the NFL.

Also in the Crimson Tide’s favor is the shaky status of USC head coach, Clay Helton. Helton may have the hottest seat in college football. The Trojans could recover from last season’s 5-7 record, including losing five of their last six games. Or USC could continue to falter and Helton might not even last the season.

In addition, there is a recent allegation from a former USC staff member claiming two Graduate Assistants on the USC staff paid others to take exams for them. While the claim may prove to be unfounded, the embattled USC administration might use a firing of Helton as a show of strength.

Bryce Young’s family must be following all the USC developments very closely. Is he a legit flip candidate to Alabama football? The Tide staff will have to wait and it appears they are content doing so. The rest of us will use a future official visit to Tuscaloosa as the best clue. If Bryce Young visits next fall, he will probably join the Crimson Tide.

Even if the Crimson Tide staff wanted to add another QB, in case Young sticks with USC, they must wait. Young will always be a take and numbers are too tight for two quarterbacks in the 2020 class.