To no one’s real surprise, Alabama’s sophomore quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy.
Young likely wrapped up college football’s most publicized award when he stepped up and led the Tide on a 12-play, 97-yard scoring drive in the final 1:35 of regulation against Auburn that ended with a perfect throw to seldom used Ja’Corey Brooks with 28 seconds left to tie the game at 10-10 and force overtime and set the Tide up for an epic 24-22 quadruple overtime victory in the Iron Bowl that ended with a game winning two- point pass to John Metchie II and saved Alabama’s playoff hopes, propelling the Tide to the Dec. 4 SEC championship game in Atlanta.
The next week he had another Heisman moment when he passed for 418 yards, threw two touchdown passes and run for another score as the Tide defeated previously unbeaten, to-ranked Georgia, 42-27, to advance to the semi-finals of the College Football Playoff, decimating the Dawgs’ top-ranked defense. The Tide will play Cincinnati Dec. 31 in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Young was the first Alabama quarterback to win the award. He received 684 votes and 2,311 points to easily outdistance Michigan defensive end Aiden Hutchinson, who had 78 first place votes and 954 points overall. Quarterbacks Kenny Pickett of Pitt and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State were third and fourth. Linebacker Will Anderson of Alabama finished fifth in the voting, putting two defensive players in the top 5 for the first time since 1962.
Young completed 68 percent of his passes (314-462) for 4,322 yards with 43 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He was second nationally in passing touchdowns and fifth in the country in passing efficiency (175.5).
He lived with high expectations all season ever since he was the choice to replace former Tide quarterback and NFL first round draft pick Mac Jones. Before the season ever began, Young signed lucrative six figure Name Image and Likeness deals which became available to college athletes this year before ever starting a game.
Young more than lived up to the hype, beginning with a four- touchdown performance in the season opener against Miami. His meteor took off from there. Young led the Tide to a 12-1 record and the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll. He won the Maxwell Award given to the best player in the country and the Davey O’Brien given to the best quarterback
He becomes the fourth Nick Saban- coached Alabama player to win the award. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, won it in 2020. In 2009, running back Mark Ingram, now with the New Orleans Saints, won and current Tennessee Titans’ running back Derrick Henry won in 2015.
