Paul Finebaum explains what Bryce Young's Heisman means for Alabama recruiting

Bryce Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy this weekend, marking the Crimson Tide’s second consecutive Heisman winner, and ESPN Paul Finebaum believes that his historic feat might have an impact on Nick Saban’s recruiting.

Young has completed 68% of his passes in 2021, good for 4,322 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and he’s added three rushing touchdowns to his season total. All the while, he has led Alabama to a 12-1 record in 2021, including an SEC Championship title against the Georgia Bulldogs. In the Crimson Tide’s 41-24 victory over the favored Bulldogs, Young completed 26 of his 44 passing attempts for 421 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and no interceptions; meanwhile, he added three carries for 40 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. 

“In many ways, if you’re a great player around the country and you’re looking for a place that will allow you to play for championships, punch your ticket for the NFL Draft and maybe, if you’re a skill position player, fight for the Heisman Trophy — Alabama is your place,” Finebaum said of Alabama’s recruiting approach. “It’s pretty obvious.”

Young may be the first quarterback in Alabama program history to win the Heisman Trophy, but he’s the fourth overall player, joining Mark Ingram (2009), Derrick Henry (2015) and DeVonta Smith (2020). He claimed the award just one year after DeVonta Smith, making Alabama the third school in modern history to win consecutive Heisman Trophies (Oklahoma in 2017-18, USC in 2004-05). The history — having two running backs, a wide receiver and a quarterback — win the Heisman Trophy only furthers Finebaum’s point.

“I think the most interesting thing that I saw in all of that was in the last two years, five different Alabama players have come in the top five. And your point a minute ago was so interesting. When Auburn would have Bo Jackson in the mid-’80s or Cam (Newton) later, Alabama fans turned their nose as if the Heisman was something teams that didn’t win national championships got,” Finebaum said. “And now, it’s just part of the tapestry of Alabama football. It’s a tremendous calling card. Not that Alabama needed anything else to promote.”

Shortly after Young took home the Heisman Trophy, Saban cited a philosophical change in Alabama’s offensive approach, which opened the door for Young’s candidacy. According o Finebaum, ever since Alabama made that switch, the Crimson Tide have now unlocked a new potential of high-powered offense in which every skill position can compete for college football’s greatest individual award.

“Even though there have been moments like, ‘Hey, maybe this is an inflection point (for Alabama),’ this shatters anyone trying to promote the idea that this dynasty is over,” Finebaum said.