Tag: Bryce Young

Max Johnson is a top four quarterback in the SEC per 247Sports

According to Brad Crawford of 247Sports, LSU Tigers QB Max Johnson is a top-four passer in the SEC.

Just days away from the start of the college football season for the SEC. LSU travels to Pasadena for a showdown with UCLA. This season will be about how Max Johnson performs in 2021. If he struggles we could see Garrett Nussmeier, but the quarterback battle in 2022 could be intense when top 2022 recruit Walker Howard gets into the mix.

Before all of that, it will be one Saturday at a time. Looking at Johnson, he is viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. On Saturday, the south paw will get his third career start after going 2-0 to close out 2020.

In the SEC hierarchy of quarterbacks, it begins and ends with Ole Miss passer Matt Corral. The top NFL draft prospect in the conference at quarterback. Brad Crawford of 247Sports began his rankings there with Corral as the No. 1 overall QB in the SEC. Just behind Corral is Georgia quarterback JT Daniels. Then the rankings began to get interesting.

Alabama’s Bryce Young comes in at No. 3 behind Corral and Daniels, then we have LSU Tiger gunslinger Max Johnson at No. 4 according to Crawford.

Based on what I’ve gathered from those close to the program, there may not be a quarterback who has made bigger strides in terms of development during the offseason than Max Johnson at LSU. He was competing with Myles Brennan for QB1 honors before Ed Orgeron’s job was made easy after an injury to Brennan. The son of a former NFL quarterback, Johnson is ready for his opportunity. Johnson led the Tigers to back to back wins over Florida and Ole Miss after he was thrust into action as the starter last season, throwing for 674 yards and six touchdowns against two out-manned secondaries.

The interesting nugget here is that Young, Johnson, Emory Jones of Florida, and Haynes King of Texas A&M are in the top six. All the young guns ahead of Auburn’s Bo Nix at No. 7.

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The full SEC rankings according to Crawford:

  1. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
  2. JT Daniels, Georgia
  3. Bryce Young, Alabama
  4. Max Johnson, LSU
  5. Emory Jones, Florida
  6. Haynes King, Texas A&M
  7. Bo Nix, Auburn
  8. Connor Bazelak, Missouri
  9. Will Levis, Kentucky
  10. Joe Milton, Tennessee
  11. Will Rogers, Mississippi State
  12. Luke Doty, South Carolina
  13. Ken Seals, Vanderbilt
  14. KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

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What Nick Saban said following Wednesday’s practice

What Nick Saban said following Wednesday’s practice

Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed the media late Wednesday and the season has not even started yet but coach Saban is in mid-season form.

Here are some of Saban’s comments:

  • In his opening comments, Saban stressed that fall camp is designed the create mental toughness and self-discipline for the players.
  • Saban and the staff are looking for more consistency from the center position between Chris Owens and Darrian Dalcourt.
  • When asked about the progress of TE Cameron Latu, Saban responded that the entire TE room is making progress, but that consistency in performance is the standard for every player on the team.
  • Saban said that Bryce Young has a “really good knowledge of the offense.” He also noted that they are still working on timing with Bryce and some of the new receivers and reiterated that the team needs to continue to perform well around him.
  • Coach Saban was very complimentary of Miami QB D’Eriq King saying, “he’s a very good player.”
  • Saban made a joke when asked about Aussie punter James Burnip and having him over with the rugby team since he can play rugby. But then went on to say that he was pleased with Burnip’s progress and that he can be an effective punter.
  • When asked about the progress at cornerback Saban said that Josh Jobe has had a really good camp and he has good knowledge and experience at the position, but also that some of the younger players have shown promise as well. He mentioned Kyree Jackson, Kool-Aid, Marcus Banks. He also mentioned that Jalyn Armour-David has played fairly well but has been a little banged for the last couple of days.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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Nick Saban’s thoughts on the second scrimmage of fall camp

Nick Saban’s thoughts after the second scrimmage of fall camp

Alabama held their second scrimmage of fall camp yesterday and afterward head coach Nick Saban addressed the media.

Here are some of coach Saban’s thoughts:

  • Saban saw a significant amount of improvement from the previous week’s scrimmage.
  • Kendall Randolph, DeMarcco Hellams, and a few others were held out of the scrimmage due to injuries.
  • Saban mentioned that one of the biggest issues with the younger players is dealing with anxiety. The coaching staff tries to convince them to play their game instead of worrying about the outside noise.
  • On the quarterbacks, Saban said they were able to get all three guys (Young, Tyson, and Milroe) reps in the scrimmage to help continue their development. Saban mentioned that the offense has been pretty balanced throughout fall camp.
  • Coach Saban continues to give high praise to Ohio State wide receiver transfer Jameson Williams.
  • Regarding the offensive line, Saban said, “we’ve got work to do”. He also noted that there is competition at right tackle and at center.
  • Of Will Anderson, Saban said, “Will is probably the guy that creates the most havoc for our defense in terms of his ability to pass rush”.
  • When asked about Jahleel Billingsley status on the depth chart, Saban said that it was really up to Jahleel. Saban said, “this is not a democracy, everybody doesn’t get to do what they want to do”. Billingsley’s status will be something to watch over the next couple of weeks.
  • Coach Saban spoke highly of Jordan Battle’s leadership in the backend of the defense.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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What Bryce Young said in his first media appearance

Here’s what Bryce Young had to say in his first media appearance at Alabama

Coach Saban is notorious for not allowing freshmen to speak to the media and that was not any different for former five-star QB Bryce Young. Finally, Young had the opportunity to speak to the media for the first time on Thursday.

Here is what Young had to say:

  • Young said that he has been working on becoming more of a leader.
  • On which QB’s he tries to model his game after, Young mentioned Aaron Rogers and Russell Wilson.
  • Young mentioned that the culture that coach Nick Saban has built helps keep distractions like NIL deals from becoming a problem within the locker room.
  • Young said the opportunity for him to move from Southern California to the South has been great and that he has been shown love and hospitality.
  • Young said that playing and learning behind Mac Jones last season was a great experience for him.
  • When asked about John Metchie, Young said that he is the “cornerstone” of the offense.
  • Young said that you come to Bama for the pressure and the expectations.
  • Young said that Bill O’Brien’s knowledge and experience have helped with his growth.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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Where does Bryce Young rank on list of top-10 College Football QB’s for 2021?

Bryce Young is among the best in the nation, but do you agree with where he’s ranked?

Alabama fans have recently seen some of the best quarterback play roll through Tuscaloosa. Whether it be Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa or even Mac Jones, the Crimson Tide has been spoiled with some fancy play and lots of talent at the quarterback position.

Now that Jones is in the NFL, sophomore quarterback Bryce Young will be the lead man for Alabama.

His experience is limited, and no one has much to go off of except for his high school numbers and recruiting evaluations.

USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg released a top-10 list of best college football quarterbacks heading into the 2021 season.

Young makes the list at No. 6, and there’s another SEC quarterback ahead of him. This means that Young isn’t even the best quarterback in the conference, according to this list.

6. Bryce Young, Alabama

“Young waited his turn behind Mac Jones in 2020 and is ready to take over an offense that will remain dynamic despite turnover at every position group. Unlike Jones, Young has the athleticism to bring a slightly different dimension to a system now orchestrated by Bill O’Brien. The Expectations are immense. Young has the Talent to be a superstar.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Bryce Young as he takes over at the helm of the Crimson Tide offense.

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Alabama football: Cameron Latu continues to shine

Cameron Latu continues to shine for Alabama

The biggest storyline out of spring practice was the development of redshirt junior TE Cameron Latu.

In the spring Latu was able to grab a touchdown catch in each of the scrimmages including the annual A-Day game on April 17.

Latu continued his touchdown streak in the first scrimmage of the fall this past Saturday. In a video released by the Alabama Football Twitter account, you can see Latu catching a touchdown pass from Bryce Young.

Latu came to Alabama as a four-star defensive end according to 247 Composite Rankings. He made the transition to TE after his freshman season and has seen some action in goal-line situations over the last couple of seasons. It now looks like Latu has developed into a legitimate receiving threat to pair with the talented Jahleel Billingsley.

Alabama now has two TE’s that can make plays in the passing game, which is always nice when you are breaking in a new QB.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

 

What Nick Saban said after the first scrimmage of fall camp

Here’s what Nick Saban had to say after Alabama’s first scrimmage of fall camp

Earlier today Alabama held their first scrimmage of fall camp and afterward head coach Nick Saban spoke to the media. Below are some of the quick hitters from his press conference.

 

  • Saban mentioned that there was a lot of “good hitting” for a first scrimmage.
  • He mentioned scrimmages are more about evaluating execution from the players than trying to scheme.
  • Bryce did a really good job according to coach Saban. He mentioned that the team needs to be better around Bryce.
  • Australian punter, James Burnip did well in today’s scrimmage according to coach Saban.
  • Coach Saban mentioned there are about eight or nine guys that could play along the defensive line.
  • Saban really bragged on freshman DB Terrion Arnold’s work ethic and the staff is encouraged with the progress he has made.
  • Coach Saban mentioned that senior Kendall Randolph is a “jack of all trades” and brings great experience and knowledge, but did sprain his ankle today and did not get to complete the scrimmage.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Alabama football: Projecting Alabama’s offensive MVP

Who will be the offensive MVP for Alabama this year?

Fall camp will start in a couple of days and the 2021-2022 season will officially kickoff. A new season brings new players, and new players bring new opportunities. One opportunity that has presented itself, is who will be this year’s offensive MVP for Alabama.

Last season saw Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, and Najee Harris all become finalists for the Heisman Trophy. While I am not expecting anything remotely close to that this season, it doesn’t mean that the offense will be chopped liver.

So who will take charge this year for the Tide?

Three of the more significant returners from last year’s team are John Metchie, Brian Robinson, and Jahleel Billingsley. While I am expecting really good seasons from each of those guys, I don’t see them having such spectacular seasons that they would be awarded offensive MVP.

Metchie will be the primary receiving target out-wide for Bill O’Brien and Bryce Young, but I am expecting a heavy dose of both TE’s Jahleel Billingsley and Cameron Latu, especially early on in the season while Bryce Young is getting his feet wet.

Robinson will likely be the number one back this season, but with the loaded stable of running backs, it looks to be more of a running back by committee this fall. Jace McClellan, Roydell Williams, and maybe even freshman five-star Camar Wheaton will likely see plenty of playing time.

Billingsley is one of the top TE’s in the entire country and will flourish under first-year offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. But the guy who generated the most buzz this spring was Cameron Latu. It is possible that Alabama has the best TE duo in the nation.

Now, I love the big guys up front as much as anyone, but let’s keep it real here, an offensive lineman is not going to be MVP.

We are left with sophomore QB Bryce Young. To some, this was the obvious choice and this article could have been one paragraph, but I have a word count criteria that I have to meet!

In all seriousness, Bryce Young is a former five-star prospect that many thought would come to Alabama and overtake Mac Jones as the starter last fall. Young may not be the biggest guy, but he is a very instinctive player and plays much bigger than his size would indicate. Young has the ability to move around and outside the pocket to extend plays both on the ground and through the air.

He may not throw for 4,500 yards like Mac did last season, and it may even take him a few games to get adjusted to the college game, but Bryce has the physical tools and the mental aptitude to be an elite college football QB. For this reason, I am projecting Bryce to be the offensive MVP for Alabama this season.

Bryce Young projected regular season stat line:

3,100 yards passing, 32 passing touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.

350 yards rushing, 4 rushing touchdowns.

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Stanford HC claims NIL with the Crimson Tide is different than the rest

That’s that “Alabama Value” for you!

Stanford football head coach David Shaw gave his opinion on NIL and how it has currently impacted college football during his appearance at Pac 12 media days.

Once again, Alabama has set the gold standard in the sport, but for something off the field this time. Shaw mentioned the Crimson Tide quarterback, Bryce Young, and his reported seven-figure earnings without even starting yet.

Players all across the country have signed endorsement deals ranging from Instagram shoutouts to sponsorships from Nike.

Shaw may have come up with a new term to describe what goes on in Tuscaloosa: “Alabama Value.”

“A kid gets a seven-figure deal before he even starts a game. That’s fair market value? I don’t think that’s fair market value. That’s Alabama value,” said Shaw.

Was it a compliment, an insult or just commentary on the status quo in college football? No one can be quite sure, but Alabama Value has a nice ring to it.

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Southern football is king for Uiagalelei

D.J. Uiagalelei experienced a huge culture shock when he first stepped onto Clemson’s campus as a high school athlete. The first thing he noticed was a plethora of trees and greenery that ran contrary to the skyscrapers and concrete one grows …

D.J. Uiagalelei experienced a huge culture shock when he first stepped onto Clemson’s campus as a high school athlete. The first thing he noticed was a plethora of trees and greenery that ran contrary to the skyscrapers and concrete one grows accustomed to in Southern California.

But it was his first experience of a Clemson game and witnessing a Saturday in the south that lured the highly touted prospect out of the grasp of USC and other schools on the west coast.

The passion and enthusiasm he witnessed at his first game ultimately led Uiagalelei to pack up his life in Southern California and move across the country to play college football on the biggest stage.

“I remember when I came to my first Clemson game, I saw people tailgating from 20 minutes away on the road until I got to Clemson, and it was all shut down,” Uiagalelei said at the ACC Kickoff on Thursday. “We have 85,000 in the stadium and I think there’s like 50,000 people outside just tailgating and there’s only like 10,000 people in the city. I’ve never seen nothing like that in my life and it just opened my eyes like wow this is amazing.”

Several big-time quarterbacks ventured cross country from California in the last couple of years to some for a shot at playing on a bigger stage. Alabama starter Bryce Young, Georgia starter J.T. Daniels and Ohio State starter C.J. Stroud all left the west coast to play for teams that have a better shot at reaching the College Football Playoff. In fact those three quarterbacks grew up in about a 60-mile radius from Uiagalelei.

Uiagalelei did not try and speak for those other players but know the reason he came to Clemson. The sophomore wanted to win a national championship.

“I’m not really sure, I know why I came out here was to be able to compete for a national championship every single year,” Uiagalelei said. “I feel like Clemson was the best opportunity for me.”

The sophomore quarterback feels that football on the east coast and in the south is completely different than in the west coast where there are millions of people and millions of opportunities to find other activities on Saturdays in the fall.

“It’s such a different dynamic here in the south I think it’s because in southern California it’s huge in LA there are millions of people and millions of other things to do in California,” Uiagalelei said.

Last season Uiagalelei started a pair of games at Notre Dame and at Memorial Stadium against Boston College. He showed out while Trevor Lawrence missed time due to virus protocols, but it happened in front of restricted crowds and a limited gameday experience.

Now the California kid gets a chance to play in front of packed crowds and is excited to participate in the pageantry and tradition typically associated with a game day in Clemson.

“I think it’s definitely cool we didn’t get to have a full stadium at full capacity coming into. This year will be different,” Uiagalelei said. “I’m really excited to do my first Tiger Walk and run down the hill with all the fans in the stadium. This is what I came to Clemson for so I’m super excited to be able to do this.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!