Bryce Young: NIL conflicts won't exist due to Alabama culture

Bryce Young will enter his first year as the Alabama starting quarterback in just a few weeks. Plenty of former Crimson Tide stars took similar routes, waiting for their time, but they weren’t entering their first seasons as sudden millionaires.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said his signal-caller was making “ungodly amounts” nearing six-figures just days after NIL rules went into motion in early July.

With the season opener against Miami looming in weeks, Young took the podium after practice last week.

One of the first questions was about the potential rifts in the Alabama locker room because of jealousy over NIL success.

Young didn’t miss a beat with his response.

“For us, we all know that whatever happens externally for any person doesn’t really have anything to do with our goal and what we’re working towards,” Young said. “For us, we keep the main thing the main thing. We know everyone has to show up to work each day.”

For a 20-year-old in his second year in Tuscaloosa, Young exudes the “Alabama Way.” The Tide quarterback felt authentic. It’s clear he truly believes Saban has laid an expectation and foundation that has prepped players for nearly every situation.

“I think that again goes back to our culture,” Young said. “That’s something Coach Saban has talked about and instilled in us for a long time. “For us, between these lines in the building it’s all about how we can get better, how we can push ourselves and how we can improve. I think our whole team is bought into that, that’s something that Saban has instilled in us for a long time now.

Crimson Tide defensive linemen DJ Dale recently echoed Young’s sentiment when asked about NIL.

“I feel like it just depends on how you handle it,” defensive lineman DJ Dale said Thursday. “It can be a good thing or a bad thing. For me and my teammates, I just want us to keep the main thing the main thing. Just with football and school and I feel like the rest of that will handle itself.”

Bryce Young leading NIL deals

Alabama fans care most about a player’s production on the field, but last month, Saban made a point to mention his young quarterback’s success through NIL endorsements so far. While this is still a new, unprecedented realm for college athletes and coaches, Saban’s comments will only help the Crimson Tide on the recruiting trail.

“Our quarterback already has approached ungodly numbers,” Saban said of Bryce Young’s quick success when it comes to endorsements. “I’m not going to say what they are. He hasn’t been a starter. If I told you what he’s… it’s almost 7-figures. And it’s like the guy hasn’t even played yet. That’s because of our program.”

Young, going into his second year at the University of Alabama, was a phenom in his own right in high school. The Mater Dei alum finished with 13,250 passing yards, 152 passing touchdowns, 1,084 rushing yards and 26 more scores.

For now, it looks like the young Alabama signal-caller is thriving both on the field, and off of it.