Alabama Football: Nick Saban praises Bryce Young’s progress
By Dakota Cox
Alabama football appears to have a bright future
While Alabama football fans are used to seeing a quarterback competition in the spring, we might not get one in 2021. If we do, it appears that one player is already distancing himself as the clear-cut favorite to win the job. According to Nick Saban himself, Bryce Young is showing progress.
Saban: "Bryce (Young) is probably a little ahead of everybody else. Even though he didn't get to play that much, he got a lot of reps in practice. There's a lot of good carryover for him. I think he's very confident, and he's done a really good job of preparing so far."
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 24, 2021
Saban is keeping his plans close to his chest. He refuses to imply that this competition is already over, and we likely won’t have an official starting quarterback until August. Still, the praise speaks volumes. While Saban has been known to praise players in the past, but he will also call someone out if necessary.
Young is the only player in Alabama football’s quarterback room with significant in-game experience. While he only had 23 total pass attempts, he also played in seven total games as a true freshman. He even took snaps in the National Championship once the game was out of hand.
Young is also one of the highest-rated recruits in Alabama football history. However, that does not guarantee success. Mac Jones was a three-star recruit, and Blake Barnett was the highest-rated quarterback of the Saban era before Young. Needless to say, stars by your name do not guarantee success in college football.
Young’s competition includes two quarterbacks with varying play styles. Paul Tyson has more years under his belt, but he lost the backup job to Bryce Young in 2020. Jalen Milroe is looking to make waves as a true freshman, but he would be the first freshman quarterback to start for Alabama football since Jalen Hurts. Hurts was Saban’s first freshman quarterback to ever start with the Tide.
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The season is months away, but fans will take any bit of encouragement they can get. If the Tide are to repeat this year, they will need someone to stand up in the absence of Mac Jones. As of right now, all signs point to Bryce Young being the guy for the Tide.