LOOK: Bryce Young, Matt Leinart honored as Heisman winners by Mater Dei

Bryce Young, Matt Leinart and John Huarte make up the prestigious list of quarterbacks who won the Heisman Trophy after a successful high school career at Mater Dei. The trio was honored by the school on Tuesday with a full ceremony which featured the unveiling of an updating landmark.

After speeches capped the celebration by students and alumni, a new street sign for Heisman Lane was unveiled with the addition of Bryce Young, the latest winner from Mater Dei.

Bryce Young under the new sign. pic.twitter.com/DWhTfeQTKm

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 24, 2022

“It’s still surreal for me,” Young said, via the LA Times. “This is a huge honor. I could not be here without my teammates in high school and college.”

After John Huarte became the first Mater Dei High School alum to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961, there was a 50-year wait for the next great quarterback to deliver. While most high schools across the country would love to possess one, Mater Dei added two in less than 20 years.

Number 9 is coming home to be celebrated in front of the student body, faculty, and staff alongside his fellow alumni & Heisman Trophy winners, John Huarte and Matt Leinart 🤩 @_bryce_young

|/ #HeismanHomecoming pic.twitter.com/JGrXjNIZSZ

— Mater Dei Football (@MDFootball) May 21, 2022

Other notable Mater Dei alum who have not lifted the Heisman Trophy but still made an impact on campus include Matt Barkley, Colt Brennan, JT Daniels and Todd Marinovich.

More about Bryce Young’s Heisman Trophy

In an ironic turn of fate for Bryce Young, his Heisman win in 2021 served as a more historic feat for Alabama, who never had a quarterback lift the prestigious award, than his own high school. While Alabama does hold more all-time Heisman Trophy winners, thanks to back-to-back winners in 2020 and 2021, Mater Dei is no stranger to the ceremony either.

Speaking thoughtfully before the College Football Playoff run in 2021, Young provided a unique perspective on the accolades he has received.

“Being able to win accolades is a huge blessing, and a huge honor,” stated Young. “But for me – at least individually – I understand that winning an award like that is great, and I understand that for what it is — it reflects what I’ve done in the past. Which is a huge blessing. But it’s exactly that. It’s in the past. What I won was about what I’ve done in the past. Which is great — but it doesn’t entitle me to anything in the future.

“That’s a looking back type of trophy. That doesn’t do anything for me going in, that doesn’t mean anything and that’s not going to help us at all. So, it doesn’t change how I approach anything. It doesn’t make any difference for me.”