Nick Saban downplays height concerns about Bryce Young

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young went into the NFL Draft process and scouting combine with size issues according to analysts and scouts. But head coach Nick Saban downplayed any of those concerns.

Young is a very likely top-10 pick if not No. 1 overall, depending on which team needs a quarterback and likes Young over others. He also won a Heisman Trophy in 2021, leading Alabama to the national championship game.

Saban joined Stephen A. Smith on Know Mercy to discuss why Young’s size should not concern prospective NFL franchises.

“I think history is the best indicator of what the future is going to bring,” Saban said. “And Bryce is not ideal height that NFL folks would like to see for that particular position quarterback. But I think Bryce has played extremely well. He has no history of being injury prone. Because the SEC, there’s a lot of folks in the SEC that end up playing in the NFL, and he plays against those guys every week and he’s never had a problem with injuries.

“The only one that he had a problem with was self-inflicted, because when he was throwing the ball away at the last minute, he’s diving on the ground, he’s already sacked. He should just go down and now he pulls his shoulder up. But I don’t think it’s an issue.”

Saban expanded upon his point and said to take it on a case-by-case basis.

“I think you have to look at each individual player,” Saban said. “This guy plays quarterback like a point guard and basketball. He’s got eyes all over. He knows where everybody is. He can extend plays, he creates throwing lanes for himself, which is important for a guy his size. He can make all the throws, he’s smart. So he has a lot of the attributes from a psychological disposition standpoint that are necessary to excel at this position.

“We’ve all seen the 6-foot-4, 225 pound guy that can throw it like a bazooka. But he can’t make the choices and decisions. He can’t distribute the ball. He can’t throw it accurately. So who’s the better bet? I’m going with history, production and performance. Bryce Young has done it about as well as anybody.”

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Young finished his college career with 8,356 yards, 80 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 65.8% completion percentage. In his Heisman season (2021), Young had 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 66.9% completion percentage.