'I Hate Losing': Texas 2025 Commit KJ Lacey Might Be Bryce Young 2.0

Texas Longhorns class of 2025 quarterback commit KJ Lacey said he has received comparisons to Carolina Panthers and former Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Bryce Young.

The evolution of the quarterback position within the last decade has made Baltimore Ravens playmaker Lamar Jackson successful.

The traditional, stand-in-the-pocket-and-sling-it archetype that quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan were in the early 2000s and into the 2010s are obsolete in today's game. The perfect blend into the modern-day quarterback has exceptional arm talent with a throw-first mindset while possessing the ability to run if need-be.

That is how Texas Longhorns class of 2025 quarterback commit KJ Lacey would describe his play style.

"I get a lot of comparisons to Bryce Young," Lacey said. "My quarterbacks in the NFL that I model my game after: mostly Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers. I'm eyes downfield. If I'm rolling out, see somebody downfield, I'm going to hit it before I take off running. But, if I have to run, I'll take any good yards. Really good leader leading my team. Winner. I hate losing."

In 15 games in 2022 at Saraland High School, Lacey completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 3,177 yards and 40 touchdowns to go against five interceptions. He flashed an ability to run with four scores on the ground last season, but as the numbers show, he was a throw-first gunslinger.

Lacey is the No. 5 quarterback in the 2025 cycle and will join a backlogged room that will likely still have Arch Manning, Maalik Murphy and class of 2024 commit Trey Owens in it.

With either Manning or Murphy taking the reins after quarterback Quinn Ewers' career is complete, Lacey will likely have his shot at leading the Longhorns beginning in the 2026 season if he signs with the program.

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You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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