Bryce Young: “I Don’t Play for Individual Awards”

Bryce Young produced the greatest season ever for an Alabama quarterback in 2021. He rewrote the record book, breaking the school record for most passing yards and touchdowns in a single season. Young became the first quarterback in program history to win the Heisman trophy, but the Alabama signal-caller did not come from Pasadena, CA to Tuscaloosa, AL for personal accolades, he came to win titles.

Young spent this past week at the Elite 11 Finals in Redondo Beach, CA and spoke about the Crimson Tide falling short in the national championship.

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“That’s something that hurts and that I feel like is really always going to be with us as a team this entire year,” Young said. “For us to be so close to our goal and then obviously come up short, it hurts a lot. Again, I think that’s something that’s going to drive us and motivate us this offseason. We’re trying to correct the things we didn’t feel like we did as well.”

“I’m blessed to have had the individual success that I’ve had,” Young said. “It’s really a reflection of the people around me and the coaches. I’m super grateful for it. At the end of the day, I don’t play for individual awards. That’s never been my goal and never will be my goal. The goal is to win and that’s not what we did last year. By no means was the job complete and finished. The season wasn’t a success. We failed in our goal.”

Young and the Alabama offense struggled against a Georgia unit that ranked first in the county in passing and scoring defense. He was sacked four times, hit 10 times and pressured on 44.3 percent of his drop backs.

The offense never found a rhythm and was under constant duress the entire game. Young was picked off twice, including a 79-yard pick-six by Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo that sealed the Tide’s fate.

The junior quarterback enters the 2022 season fueled by the images of walking off the field and watching the confetti fall for another team.

Top targets Jameson Williams and John Metchie are off to the NFL, but in comes Jermaine Burton and Tyler Harrell via the transfer portal. Wide receivers Ja’Corey Brooks, Traeshon Holden, JoJo Earle and Christian Leary are expected to take on expanded roles this season.

The Crimson Tide begin their quest for the school’s 19th national championship on Saturday, Sep. 3 against Utah State inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30pm CT and will air on the SEC Network.