Bryce Young explains why his NIL haul isn’t causing team chemistry issues

Jaws dropped around the college football world in July when Nick Saban revealed that Bryce Young was nearing $1 million in name, image and likeness compensation before starting his first game.

“Our QB has already approached ungodly numbers, and he hasn’t even played yet. If I told you what it is … it’s almost 7-figures,” Saban said at a coaching convention.

Many college football observers have wondered about potential team chemistry issues caused by NIL as compensation will widely vary among teammates. Young spoke to Alabama media for the first time on Thursday. He was asked about NIL and explained why his sizable haul has not caused issues in the Crimson Tide locker room.

“I think really it says a lot about Alabama, and it’s honestly not too hard with the coaching that we have,” Young said. “Coach Saban from Day 1 when all the external stuff started to pop up, and it’s been going on for a while with their being whatever distractions there may be, that’s something we preach a lot about making sure we keep the main thing the main thing.

“We’ve talked a lot about that in-house, and that’s something that we live by. So for us, really motivated by working hard and making sure we attack the challenges the way we want to. Really those distractions, whatever they may be, they’re always going to be there. Really the culture that we have is something that’s really strong, and I’m glad to be a part of it and it really just keeps us focused on what we need to be focused on.”

Young noted that players are focused on benefitting the team and helping the team achieve its big-picture goals.

“For us, we all know that whatever happens externally for any person doesn’t really have anything to do with our goal and what we’re working towards,” Young said. “For us, we keep the main thing the main thing. We know everyone has to show up to work each day. For us, between these lines in the building, it’s all about how we can get better, how we can push ourselves and how we can improve. I think our whole team has bought into that.

“That’s something that Saban has instilled in us for a long time now. For us, we’re just trying to work harder and harder each and every day and improve on what we need to improve on.”

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.