Bama Central

Bryce Young's Response to Height Concerns at NFL Combine

The former Alabama quarterback won't be officially measured until Saturday, but his smaller stature could be a concern for some NFL teams.

Katie Windham

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Bryce Young could become the first Alabama player taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. The next step in the process is the 2023 NFL Combine.

 And although official measurements for quarterbacks won't take place until Saturday, as the former Alabama quarterback fielded questions from the media Friday at the combine, some questions and concerns were raised about his height. 

"I’ve been this size, respectfully, my whole life,” Young told reporters. “I know who I am. I know what I can do. I think it’s fair. Everyone can speculate and ask whatever questions are necessary, but I’m gonna continue to control what I can control. I’m gonna keep working my hardest to put myself in a good position. And I’m confident in myself. I know what I can do. I’m just excited to get to that next level.”

Young was listed as 6'0", 194 pounds on the Alabama roster this past season, but his actual height is believed to be in the 5'10" to 5'11" range. The average height of an NFL quarterback is in the 6'2" to 6'3" range. 

Despite his smaller stature for a quarterback, Young seemed to have little trouble reading defenses and seeing over linemen throughout his college career. In two years as a starter at Alabama, he threw for 8,200 yards, 79 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and became the first quarterback in program history to win the Heisman Trophy in 2021. 

Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends did media and team interviews on Friday and will participate in on-field drills and measurements Saturday before the NFL Combine wraps up Sunday. 

The 2023 NFL Draft kicks off April 27 in Kansas City. 

See also:

Nick Saban Not Pleased With Proposed Permanent SEC Opponents for Alabama Under New Format

Alabama at the NFL Combine: DB Interviews and On-Field Workouts, Measurements for LBs/DLs

Everything Will Anderson Jr. Said at the NFL Combine

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Katie Windham
KATIE WINDHAM

Katie Windham is the assistant editor for BamaCentral, primarily covering football, basketball gymnastics and softball. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama and has covered a variety of Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like The Tuscaloosa News, The Crimson White and the Associated Press before joining BamaCentral full time in 2021. Windham has covered College Football Playoff games, the Women's College World Series, NCAA March Madness, SEC Tournaments and championships in multiple sports.