Alabama Football: What the Bryce Young flip means to the Tide

Alabama football flipped arguably the top quarterback recruit in the 2020 class. It means more to the Crimson Tide than just another elite player.

The long anticipated flip of Bryce Young from Southern Cal to the Alabama Crimson Tide is a signal to the rest of college football. Too often, since the national championship loss to Clemson, Alabama football has been predicted to be in decline.

Attracting an elite quarterback in the 2020 class mutes the decline claim. Nick Saban has not lost his recruiting magic. The Alabama football offense of the future will not wither after Tua moves on to the NFL. Other elite 2020 and 2021 recruits will follow Bryce Young to Tuscaloosa. Another point about the flip is without Steve Sarkisian, Bryce Young might well have stuck with USC or flipped elsewhere. Sark had a major role in selling Young and his family.

How good is Young? Because he is an inch under six feet and is elusively mobile, he is most compared to Kyler Murray. His throwing accuracy is compared to Tua. Coming out of a high school program that competes against some of the nation’s best defenses, he is valued for his field vision and decision making.

While Young is just below 5-Star status on some sites, 247Sports has him rated not only as a 5-Star but the No. 1 Dual-threat QB and the No. 4 player overall in the 2020 class.

In comments after the flip became official, Bryce Young said he has been promised nothing by Nick Saban. Elite high school QBs are accustomed to promises. Nick Saban does not work that way. Bryce Young will have to earn a Crimson Tide starting job but most recruiting experts believe he can win the job as a true freshman.

He plans to enroll early so next spring will be filled with starting quarterback drama in Tuscaloosa. If Young is even close to as good as is advertised, it is hard to believe the Crimson Tide will come out of next spring with four scholarship QBs.

The other question on the minds of Alabama football fans is how the Young flip will affect 2021 class QB verbal commit, Drake Maye. Maye is a No. 7 rated Pro-style QB, a 4-Star and the No. 65 player in the 2021 class.

What is clear about the Young flip is the Crimson Tide will now have more options to gain another highly rated wide receiver and tight end for the 2020 class. Recruits follow elite players. Bryce Young’s impact on recruiting will attract defensive, as well as other offensive players.

Alabama football already had a numbers crunch before adding Bryce Young. With increased interest resulting from the flip, the current list of 23 guys may shrink and grow before it is finished.