NFL Combine: Alabama QB Bryce Young Q&A

While the next generation of future NFL stars took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young opted out of the combine drills, he met with the media earlier this week.

What do you plan to tell the NFL teams who question your size?

(Smiled) Yeah, I've been this size, respectfully, my whole life. I know who I am. I know what I can do. For me, it's fair (concerns). Everyone can speculate and ask when the questions are necessary. I'm going to continue to control what I can control. I'm going to keep working my hardest to improve myself at the position. I'm confident in myself. I know what I can do. I'm just excited to be at the next level.

Would you be surprised if you weren’t chosen number one overall?

Again, I feel like I don't know what's going to happen. Obviously I don't get to choose. I'd be surprised either way. I'm just happy to be here honestly. It's an honor for me to be able to be selected by whatever team it is that takes a chance on me. Whoever it was or whatever position (in the draft), I'm just happy to get that chance at the next level.

What do you hope to prove at the combine?

My job isn't to necessarily prove anything. For me, it's to try to explain all the things that I see to all the coaches, all the decision makers, to express myself and talk about how I see the game, my experiences in the past. To be able to learn as well. Try to soak as much in and learn from the coaches. I've been able to talk to some players. For me it's a big learning experience. I'm doing my best to try to explain how I got here.

How would you say the Alabama offense translates to the next level?

I feel like there's a good amount of application from play calls, to protections, to the run game. I've been blessed to be in the system that I have and I think it translates pretty well to the next level. Obviously there's going to be stuff I'm going to learn. I'm excited to do that. I have a really good foundation.

What is the biggest misconception about you?

That's a good question. For me, I feel like I'm someone who pushes myself and prides myself on my preparation and processing and leading the offense. For me, I make sure that I do whatever I feel like is best for the team. I try to make efficient decisions and after every time . . . try to make sure I'm playing the most efficiently for the team. Misconception-wise, to be honest, I don't really know too much that's out there. I'm grateful for everyone's opinions, for the media. I'm not really on social media that much, not really watching too much about me. I respect everyone's opinions, but I focus on what I can control. I take the advice and the direction of the people I trust, and the people at the next level.

Can you discuss your shoulder injury from this past season?

Anytime you have to deal with adversity like that, it's tough. But I was blessed to be around the guys that I was. My teammates first, who pushed me and picked me up through all that. We have an amazing training staff that also was there, making sure I was getting better each and every day. It's tough dealing with injuries. It's hard to find people who haven't. For me, I must be able to play with my guys . . . that was something that pushed me through that process. I was around a good group that picked me up when I was down. Thankfully I'm fully back.

Did you place an emphasis on putting on more weight during your combine training?

For me, it was just about being able to train. We had an amazing nutritionist . . . we just put more stock in making sure I'm eating the right things, making sure that my body's right.

What do you consider to be the best part of your overall game?

For me, I really pride myself in my leadership. I know that's something I have to earn at the next level. I'm really excited to get into a locker room, whatever team does end up taking me and try to earn that trust and respect from the locker room. I get that it's not something I'm entitled to, but at the next level I'm excited to put in the work to try to earn that trust.

How was your meeting with the Houston Texans?

My meeting with the Texans was great. I was super happy to be in that room. It's an amazing staff. To be able to talk ball with them and then for them to ask me some questions and for me to learn a little more about them and them to learn more about me, it was a great environment to be in that room.

Did your meeting with the Chicago Bears go well?

It was a great room to be a part of. We were able to talk ball. We were able to talk about my last year. It was a great staff. It was an honor. There was a lot of knowledge, a lot of wisdom in that room. For me to be able to pick their brain to learn so much was great.

What one game would you tell scouts to go watch that best shows off your style?

One game I'm proud of was the Auburn game my junior year. We pride ourselves at the University of Alabama so much in that game, the Iron Bowl. That's something that's so big for us as a university. Going into overtime and for us to show that fight in a game that means so much is something I'm extremely proud of.

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