Bryce Young reveals what it feels like to be Heisman winner alongside DeVonta Smith

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. In doing so, he became the second consecutive Alabama player to take home the award. Last year, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith took home the honor. Being able to share that honor with his former wide receiver is a special feeling for Young.

“Yeah, it’s amazing,” Young said of winning the Heisman back-to-back with Smith. “Smitty definitely taught me a lot last year, seeing how he operated and getting to see how he worked. For him to win this award last year, it was huge and very inspiring, and now for me to be able to win it this year, that’s something I don’t take for granted at all. Also hearing that message he gave at the end of the ceremony, that was surreal to have a moment like that.”

Young had a big year in his first season as Alabama’s starting quarterback. On the season, Young completed 68% of his passes for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns and four interceptions to go along with three rushing scores. Alabama went 12-1, winning the SEC Championship and earning the top overall seed in the College Football Playoff.

Having back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners in Young and Smith is an incredible feat for Alabama. Only three other schools have pulled off that feat (Oklahoma 2017-2018, USC 2004-2005).

Smith was quick to congratulate Young after his Heisman win

Shortly after Young was announced as the Heisman winner, a video played at the ceremony in New York of Smith. Smith welcomed Young to the Heisman club in the video.

From one Heisman to another…@_bryce_young @DeVontaSmith_6

Welcome to the Fraternity pic.twitter.com/2k3Oq4N49p

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 12, 2021

Smith had a monster season during his Heisman campaign last season. He caught 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns, adding one rushing score.

In addition to Young and Smith, two other Alabama players have won the Heisman Trophy. Mark Ingram took home the award in 2009 and Derrick Henry won in 2015. But Young becomes the first Alabama quarterback to ever win the Heisman, and that is a special honor.

“There’s been such a great legacy at the University of Alabama,
and there’s such a rich quarterback history, from all the guys that have been there,” Young said before the Heisman ceremony, when asked what it would mean to be the first Alabama quarterback to win. ““Just to hear that history and just to hear what (other quarterbacks have) meant to the program and meant to all the coaches and people that they’ve encountered, that’s something I don’t take lightly at all.”