Young says Heisman reflects past as Bama seeks another title

Bryce Young views his Heisman Trophy as about what he and Alabama have already done, not what the top-ranked Crimson Tide are still trying to accomplish in his first season as the starting quarterback.

“It reflects what I’ve done in the past, which is a huge blessing,” Young said this week before the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. “That doesn’t entitle me to anything in future. . That’s a looking-back-type of trophy.”

The Heisman-wining play this season by Young is a big reason why the Tide (12-1) is back in the College Football Playoff with a chance to win a second consecutive national title. Alabama plays undefeated and fourth-ranked Cincinnati on Friday.

First-year Alabama offensive

coordinator Bill O’Brien said when Young returned to Tuscaloosa from New York after the award ceremony, the quarterback told him, “Look, I’m very grateful and very honored to be the Heisman Trophy winner, but we have more to do. There’s more out there for me to do.”

Even after throwing for 4,322 yards with 43 TDs and only four interceptions. Even after directing a late 97-yard, game-tying scoring drive in a four-OT victory over Auburn in the regular season finale, then setting an SEC championship game record with 421 yards passing in a 41-24 victory over a Georgia team that was undefeated and had given up only 83 total points in its 12 regular-season games.

“He’s a young man that really gets it, and he’s practiced really well the last couple weeks for a very, very challenging game on Friday,” O’Brien said. “I can’t emphasize enough the special qualities that Bryce has.”

Young, a former five-star recruit from Southern California, was the backup as a true freshman to Mac Jones last year when Alabama won its sixth national championship in 12 seasons. Jones was the fifth Bama quarterback in that span to win a title in his first year as the starter, following Jalen Hurts in 2017. Jones and Hurts are both now starting in the NFL.