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Alabama is replacing – or some might say “reloading” – at many positions on offense in 2021 with many of the standouts from the 2020 national championship squad off to the NFL. The highest-profile replacement is at quarterback where former 5-star recruit Bryce Young is the presumptive starter after the departure of Heisman Trophy finalist Mac Jones.
During last year’s offseason, some fans expected Young to push Jones for the starting spot. Young ended up being Jones’ backup. On Wednesday, Nick Saban said that Young’s backup reps from last season are giving him a leg up this spring.
“We have three quarterbacks in the program. Bryce is probably a little ahead of everybody else because he got a lot of reps last year,” Saban discussing his QB room in Wednesday’s press conference. “Even though he didn’t get to play that much, he got a lot of reps in practice, a lot of good carryover for him. I think he’s very confident and he’s done a really good job of preparing so far.
Of course Young isn’t the only scholarship quarterback going through spring practice. UA also has third-year QB Paul Tyson and spring enrollee Jalen Milroe.
“The other two guys, they’re working and making improvements,” Saban said. “So we’re just really focused on improvement, not really the outcome. Certainly, what do we have to do with all these players to get the outcome we want. And it’s going to be a work in progress, no doubt. But that’s why we’re practicing.”
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
