Bryce Young’s first touchdown pass as an Alabama quarterback was to DeVonta Smith. “Little did they know, that pass was from one Heisman winner to another,” Smith said in a video tribute from the 2020 Heisman-winning wideout to Young after he was named the winner of the 2021 Heisman Trophy Saturday night.

Smith’s message was thoughtful. “When everyone else doubted,” he said, “we believed.”

And Young shared Sunday morning during an appearance on CBS Sports Network that Smith has always been right there in his corner.

“That was my roommate the entire year (last year),” Young said. “Smitty was always a big mentor for me. When I first got there at Alabama last year, he welcomed me with open arms. He was always someone who I’d try to pick his brain and ask questions about. And he was always someone who would stop and talk about football, talk life with me. As a young freshman last year, that meant a lot. For him to make such a special video and for me to see that right after I got the award and hear that speech, it was a whirlwind of emotions for me. That was amazing.”

Young captured 684 first-place votes for the Heisman, with second-place earning only 78. The competition was wide open until Young’s final 2 games—a late comeback on Auburn in the Iron Bowl and then a demolition of Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. He is Alabama’s 4th Heisman winner in program history and the only quarterback to win it.