Alabama's Bryce Young beats Auburn's Suni Lee for top amateur athlete

The Alabama Sports Writers Association named Alabama quarterback Bryce Young as their amateur athlete of the year. The Crimson Tide QB edged out Auburn gymnast Suni Lee for the award. He just held on as ASWA President Christopher Walsh described the decision as “extremely close”.

The other nominees in the running were Alabama softball’s Montana Fouts, Mississippi State baseball’s Tanner Allen, and Virginia swimming’s Paige Madden.

Young led Alabama to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Although the Tide came up short, Young still won the biggest award of the year with the 2022 Heisman Trophy. As a sophomore, Young broke the Alabama single season records for yards (4,872) and touchdowns (47).

Young follows in the footsteps of Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Smith also paired a Heisman Trophy win with the ASWA’s amateur athlete of the year award the season before. Smith had 23 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 reception yards as he helped Alabama win a national title in 2020. The Philadelphia Eagles selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Lee may have finished second, but she was a champion in her own right during her freshman year. After winning gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she helped Auburn gymnastics to their best finish in school history. Lee won the 2022 beam championship and was the runner-up in the all-around performance.

Alabama cleaned up the awards as former Tide corner Trevon Diggs was named the ASWA’s pro athlete of the year. In his second season with the Dallas Cowboys, Diggs led the NFL in interceptions.

Both Young and Lee will be returning to the state of Alabama to compete next year. They may have more national titles on their mind, but they’ll both likely be in the running for the next round of awards from the association.