Preseason No. 1 Alabama will have Bryce Young at quarterback in the season opener against No. 14 Miami, coach Nick Saban announced Monday in perhaps college football’s most unsurprising news of the upcoming season.
Young had been the presumed heir apparent to Mac Jones, a first-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in April, since Jones announced he was entering the draft shortly after the Crimson Tide won the College Football Playoff in January.
“Bryce has done a nice job,” Saban said Monday in making the announcement. “He’s confident and accurate with the ball.”
Last season, Young appeared in nine games as a freshman. The 6-foot, 194-pound QB from Southern California completed 13 of 22 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Young was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 2 overall player in the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports composite. He played his high school football at powerhouse Mater Dei.
Marketers already had taken note of Young well in advance of Saban’s announcement. Under new regulations that allow players to cash in on their name, image and likeness, Young already had deals worth nearly $1 million as of late July.
The Crimson Tide and Hurricanes are set to play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media