Bryce Young says Bill O'Brien, Nick Saban's play calling shows trust

Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young finally made his first-career start on Saturday. And in a dominating performance over the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes, the California-native left no doubts that he’s capable of leading the No. 1 Crimson Tide back to the top of the college football world.

His long-awaited debut led to extremely high expectations, but Young was unfazed. In fact, he seemed giddy about making his debut.

After running back Brian Robinson ran for three yards on the Crimson Tide’s first play from scrimmage, first-year offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien called for Young to throw it deep to wide receiver Jameson Williams. Although Young and Williams later connected for a 94-yard touchdown, Young’s first pass attempt as a starting quarterback was ultimately incomplete. The play call alone, however, showed a sense of trust from the coaching staff and excited him for what’s to come.

“Really just gaining that trust from [Bill O’Brien], from Coach (Nick) Saban, that speaks volumes as a quarterback, especially me, who hadn’t taken a starting snap [prior to the game],” Young said of that first pass attempt, a downfield playcall. “For him to trust me — and I knew the plan a little bit going in, but to know we’re going to take a shot early, and for him to trust me and not try to hold back or change any play calls, that means a lot.”

Young enrolled at Alabama in the spring of 2020 after concluding a storied high school career at California powerhouse Mater Dei. As a freshman, Young sat behind Mac Jones but appeared in nine games. He finished the year 13-of-22 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown. Jones, by comparison, set an NCAA single-season record with a 77.4 completion percentage in 2020 — his only year as Alabama’s starter — coupled with 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He won a national championship and was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2020 but ultimately lost to his teammate, wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Young, in his Alabama debut, was exceptional himself. He completed 27 of 38 passes, good for a 71 completion percentage, and threw for 344 total yards and four passing touchdowns, both school records for a debut start. He did not throw an interception, and his longest play was a 94-yard touchdown pass to Williams.

‘It means a lot to me’

“I feel like that was definitely trust I was trying to build and establish in the offseason,” Young said. “But having that trust from Coach Saban and OB, it means a lot to me.”

Young finished his day with a 181.8 quarterback rating, and he set a school record for passing touchdowns and yards in a debut as a starter.

Ahead of the Week 1 opener, Young was listed at +1100 to win the Heisman Trophy by most sportsbooks; the favorite, Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, was listed at around +650. Within a week, the two almost traded positions: now Young is the overall favorite to win, his odds priced at +500, and Rattler jumped up to +700.