Bryce Young is officially off the board at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, and it didn’t take very long at all for the Alabama star quarterback and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner to hear his name called.

Young was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night at the beginning of Round 1.

For Nick Saban, it’s the first No. 1 overall draft pick he’s coached at Alabama, though Young certainly isn’t the only former Crimson Tide star to go in Round 1 in recent years!

Young has faced many questions about his size in the pre-draft process, but his game tape is beyond reproach. There are throws Young makes that can’t be coached. His leadership skills are elite. And when he has to, he can run the ball well, too.

This play shows the immense talent Young has. He maneuvers in the pocket, manipulating defenders to create time for his receivers to get open. Then he directs traffic down the field while keeping his eyes up. Finally, he unleashes a pinpoint pass to the end zone for a touchdown:

In 3 years at Alabama, Young appeared in 34 games for the Crimson Tide, throwing for 8,356 yards, 80 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He added 7 touchdowns as a runner.

Now he takes his talents to the NFL ranks, where he’ll have a great chance to make an immediate impact and compete for Rookie of the Year honors.