Alabama Athletics
The impact of landing Bryce Young and what it means for the starting quarterback job in 2020
While 4-star quarterback Bryce Young might not be the highest graded prospect in the Class of 2020, his decision to commit to the University of Alabama over the past weekend could prove to be the most important.
Why?
Because, the No. 2 dual-threat signal caller in the nation according to the 247sports composite rankings, has the potential to make a similar impact as Tua Tagovailoa with the Crimson Tide program.
Young and Tagovailoa’s stories have a lot of similarities. Both are West Coast kids transplanting their lives in the heart of the South. In Tagovailoa's recruitment, Southern California was one of the first schools to offer him and he's repeatedly said that he would have transferred there had his freshman year ended differently.
The Trojans were spurned, yet again, this time by Young when he decommitted on Sunday.
Both talented players have connections to offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
“Alabama is such a storied program with so much tradition,” Young told 247sports. I just fell in love with it there. From the people I met, the staff, the players, the environment, it all made me feel like this was the right thing for me to do. Going in to the visit, I had a good idea what Alabama was all about and during the trip, that’s when I knew this is where I wanted to be and when I solidified my decision. I told coach Saban and Coach Sark and they were all really excited and so was I.”
In both instances, the Crimson Tide had quarterbacks decommit in each class in order to land these two.
Former 4-star quarterback Jake Fromm’s decommitment, in 2016, set the stage for Tagovailoa to make his way to Tuscaloosa.
In the spring of 2019, 4-star quarterback Carson Beck decommitted, which allowed the Crimson Tide to focus on Young. Like Fromm, Beck is currently committed to Georgia.
There are parallels on the field, too: Accuracy, arm strength, and elusiveness in the pocket. Big play potential in the blink of an eye. Elite mental ability to process different defensive coverages and schemes.
Tagovailoa’s mark on the Crimson Tide program is unquestionable. As of now, the Hawaiian is responsible for 79 touchdowns in his career, second-most in school history to AJ McCarron’s 80. That record will inevitably be broken during the 2019 campaign, probably even this week against Ole Miss (Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS).
With teams like the Miami Dolphins, salivating at the idea of snagging a player like Tagovailoa early on in next spring’s NFL draft, and if he indeed determines to go pro then that leaves one major question for head coach Nick Saban and in his staff in 2020.
Who will be the team's starting quarterback?
It is a question that Saban will probably not greet with the warmest welcome, as he did in the offseason of 2018 with the battle between Jalen Hurts and Tagovailoa, but one that's already on the back of everyone's minds.
The possibilities are vast due to the talent the Crimson Tide possess at that position.
The quarterback room will be loaded. Former consensus 3-star prospect and current back-up Mac Jones will be back for his redshirt-junior season. He has experience, and knows the offense the best.
Behind him on the current depth chart are 4-stars Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of the 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up, and Paul Tyson, the great-grandson of Paul W. Bryant, will return for their sophomore seasons.
Now, enter soon-to-be freshman Young.
Family connections with two of the aforementioned quarterbacks made their decisions to join the Crimson Tide feel expected or maybe even pre-determined.
But with Young, his commitment felt different. Fans could get a sense of that, when the rumblings and rumors started on social media and recruiting experts started feeling a change in the wind. Tuscaloosa was looking more and more like the destination for the Santa Ana product.
Young is currently in the middle of his senior season at Mater Dei High School, where he has thrown for 14 touchdowns and completed 73 percent of his passes with only one interception through four games.
On the ground, he has 143 yards on 26 carries with five touchdowns.
It helps that Young will be an early enrollee and be ready for spring ball. A-Day 2020 should prove to be one of the more intriguing moments in recent history for Crimson Tide fans.
The storylines are there for one of the most interesting quarterback competitions that college football has ever seen.
Will the younger Tagovailoa follow in his legendary brother’s footsteps?
Can the legacy of Bryant live on through Tyson?
Will a kid from California become the next west coast phenom to take the Crimson Tide by storm?
What will the transfer portal have to say about all this, if anything at all?
It, obviously, remains to be seen and way to early to make a prediction as to what will happen, but the Crimson Tide could have college football’s next star freshman in Young, who can make an immediate impact. He's already attracting other offensive standouts to consider joining him at Alabama.
Fans can get a look at what Young brings to the table on Friday evening as his Monarchs take on St. John’s High School at 7:30 on ESPNU.
