Bryce Young talks about Jahmyr Gibbs, reveals award-winning offseason

The Alabama Crimson Tide picked up a huge weapon in the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason in former Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young sang high praise for the budding star in his first spring season.

A second-year freshman, Gibbs rushed for 746 yards and four touchdowns in the 2021 season at Georgia Tech, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Meanwhile, he was a frequent contributor in the receiving game, reeling in 35 catches for 465 yards and two more touchdowns. He finished the regular season ranked third in the FBS in all-purpose yards with 150.4 per game.

“Jahmyr has worked really hard. He’s done a great job of coming in — and again, he’s someone who’s really taken to the offense well. He’s someone who’s done the little things right in our conditionings, every week he was winning an award for being one of the top performers and he’s someone who came in and looked good and worked well the last week,” Young said of Gibbs on Monday. “I’m super excited now that we’re back to our normal spring schedule. Every day, we’re together, we’re meeting, we’re practicing stuff. I’m excited to continue to work with him and continue to see him be successful. It’s exciting for me as well.”

Gibbs was Georgia Tech’s starting running back in 2020, his true freshman season, but did not burn a year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 blanket waiver granting an additional year of eligibility. Last year, he was limited to playing in just seven of the Yellow Jackets’ 10 games due to injuries, but was still an All-ACC honorable mention as a return specialist, as well as a second-team freshman All-American (The Athletic). He led Georgia Tech in all-purpose yards in 2020 with 968, while scoring seven touchdowns.

“That’s always a huge advantage,” Young said of Gibbs’ ability to both run and catch out of the backfield. “When you have someone explosive and dynamic that can make someone miss and make big plays down the field in the run and pass game, I feel like that’s huge for us, and especially for our system. It’s something that we’d like to incorporate. I’m excited for Jahmyr and for the entire running back room. We’re getting guys back healthy, which is always good. For everyone in that room — it’s extremely talented and extremely deep, so all those guys have different levels of experience in the system, but I have tremendous faith in all of those guys.”

Gibbs was tabbed a four-star recruit in the class of 2020 by the On3 Consensus, good for the No. 8 running back in his class. Upon entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, Gibbs’ value immediately skyrocketed, as he was ranked as the No. 1 running back prospect to enter his name in the portal.