Jord is here with his early predictions for who may lift the Heisman Trophy in 2021. First up is Alabama Crimson Tide Quarterback Bryce Young. 

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Sophomore, 6 ‘ 0”, 194 lbs

The reigning college football playoff champions will have a new face at QB for the 2021 season. The job looks like it’s going to be given to former 5 star recruit Bryce Young. The California native steps into the space left by Mac Jones. In his Freshman year, Young saw limited time. He was used in clean up duty in a handful of games. Expectations are high for Young. When are they never under Nick Saban? Could we see teething problems early on that could blow any chance of a Heisman trophy for the second year recruit?

Handling the pressure

The pressure will be on Young from the get go. Mac Jones set the bar high with glittering performances, concluding a fabulous 2020 season with a National Championship for the Crimson Tide. First year starting QBs have had mostly good records during Nick Saban’s time at Alabama, so the odds are in the favour of a solid year for Young. It is far from an easy task for Young when they face Miami in the season opener, but ‘Bama should come out on top. A good start will do wonders for his confidence, but a shaky start will see the pressure build.

Help from his offence

Bryce Young will need help from his offence. With Jaylon Waddle, DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris all entering the NFL, Young will need the new guys to stand up and make plays to make life easier for him. The new wave of offensive talent looks exciting, it always does. Alabama is yet again one of the top recruiters. Young has a proven weapon still there in John Metchie III, who could be a reliable target for him. The offensive line lost key pieces, but will still offer great protection for the dynamic QB.

With a change at OC and offensive line coach, Bryce Young might need a bit of time to find his feet. Getting a football education from Nick Saban and former NFL Head Coaches Bill O’Brien and Doug Marrone is going to be a boon for the offence. The tools are all there for a successful year for Bryce Young. Something fascinating could be brewing. If all goes to plan, he could be in line for the Heisman Trophy at the end of the 2021 college football season.

The Verdict

Everything looks like it’s set up for another successful season for the Crimson Tide. Will it be Bryce Young that is the focal point in guiding them to another successful year? Could that be enough to see him lift the Heisman Trophy? He is in a small group of QBs sitting behind the favourite Spencer Rattler who have a chance. It’s a big ask for him but anything is possible when you are QB1 at Alabama.

History is stacked against Bryce Young as a Sophomore. Since 1935, only four Sophomores have lifted the Heisman Trophy. The good news for Young is that all four of those have been since 2007. Three of those were QBs: Tim Tebow (2007), Sam Bradford (2008) and Lamar Jackson (2016). Tebow won two National Championships with The Gators. Bradford led Oklahoma to the highest scoring offence in NCAA history before his Heisman Trophy win in 2008. Jackson had a clean sweep of awards, claiming the Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards before lifting the Heisman Trophy. It is a tough ask for Bryce Young to replicate their achievements. With Nick Saban as Head Coach, however, nothing is impossible.