Nick Saban discusses increased leadership role for Bryce Young in 2022

Alabama head coach Nick Saban made a recent appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter with Jackson State head coach Deon Sanders. ESPN’s Sage Steele asked Saban about his Heisman trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young and specifically his leadership heading into this season.

“Well I think people forget that Bryce was a first year starter last year, so sometimes you don’t feel like when you’re a new guy, a new starter, that you should really be taking the bull by the horns and being the kind of leader that impacts and effects other people, especially when there’s a lot of old player around you,” Saban said.

On the field Young was undeniable last season, breaking the school single season passing yards and touchdowns record putting up a monster 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns for the Tide. But as a leader, Young had some room for growth, and Saban believes he did grow and will have a different mentality this upcoming season.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

“I think this year he’s got a completely different disposition when it comes to that, he’s done a really really good job of effecting the players around him in a really positive way. He’s had a great attitude about continuing to try to improve and get better. He’s not satisfied at all with where he was, and where he is, and where the team is so I think those are all positive factors for us,” Saban said.

Alabama enters the season with the top preseason ranking at No.1, as they bring back one of the most talented rosters in college football. Young taking his game to another level would be extraordinary, but if he can take his leadership to the next level, then the Tide could be an even bigger force nationally then they already are.

Nick Saban discusses how calm, collected Bryce Young compares to Aaron Rodgers

Alabama quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Bryce Young definitely took the quarterback position at Alabama to new heights last season. Young broke the school single season passing yards and touchdowns record, and his performance was good enough to garner a top three ranking if you check a majority of 2023 NFL draft big boards. One NFL scout compared Young to four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, and on The Next Round, Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed this comparison. 

“I think so, because Aaron Rodgers is obviously a fantastic player and he’s been that way for a long long time and I think that’s the key to being successful is how guys can deal with success, how they can continue to stay focused and not get satisfied and have a relentless competitive attitude about continuing to grow and develop at the position. I think both these guys have demonstrated that, I know Aaron Rodgers has and so far in the program here Bryce has done the same thing,” Saban said,

The two California products definitely have a similar play style as well a cool, calm demeanor on the field. Saban also talked about Young’s composure and how it contributes to his game. 

“I think that’s true, one of the things we admire about Bryce is that he is very bright, he does a great job of preparing. He’s always on top of exactly what we want to do, how we want to execute and the thing we try to emphasize with him, because he has a calm demeanor is your presence is important to the rest of the players. So he’s made huge strides in affecting other people on offense in a positive way,” Saban said. “Quarterback’s a hard position to play if the people around you don’t play well so I think that’s something that has actually helped him continue to grow and develop as a player at his position and he’s obviously played it very well last year and we’re hopeful we can help him do the same thing this year.”