Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has made lucrative deals before starting his first college game, but he doesn’t think that or the preseason hype surrounding him will be a distraction.
To Young, the “culture” that coach Nick Saban has created for the program won’t allow it.
“I think really it says a lot about Alabama, and it’s honestly not too hard with the coaching that we have,” Young said Thursday. “Coach Saban from day one, when all the external stuff started to pop up – and it’s been going on for a while with there 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.”
Young spoke via Zoom in his first interview with reporters since arriving in Tuscaloosa as the country’s top dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2020 recruiting class.
Saban said in July that Young already had received nearly seven figures’ worth of name, image and likeness deals. The sophomore from California is set to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Mac Jones at quarterback when the Crimson Tide open their season Sept. 4 against Miami in Atlanta.
Other than mop-up duties, Young hadn’t been seen all that much by Alabama fans before the spring game. Then he showed off his athleticism and arm, passing for 333 yards and a 59-yard touchdown to tight end Cameron Latu.
The next game he suits up for will be real. Even while replacing Jones – and despite the Tide losing four other first-round NFL draft picks from the offense – Young will lead a team with a No. 1 preseason ranking that is favored to repeat as national champions. Last season’s title was the program’s sixth since Saban took over before the 2007 season.
Young is OK with lofty standards after leading high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California, where he took over for current Georgia starter JT Daniels.
“There obviously are expectations, but regardless of what happened in high school or any past experiences I’ve had, coming to Bama is where you come for pressure and come for expectations,” Young said. “Everyone here, when they signed on the dotted line and decided to come here, we knew it was going to come with expectations.
“Saban sets that standard for us immediately during recruiting and when we step into the building, so it’s not something I was blindsided by.”
Auburn coach sidelined
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin said Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home.
Harsin said in a statement that he tested positive Thursday but wasn’t experiencing symptoms.
The first-year Tigers coach said he will participate remotely in meetings and practices. Assistant head coach Jeff Schmedding, who works with linebackers, will take over as interim coach for in-person duties.
“Just like in a game, teams that handle adversity and make necessary adjustments are those that are most successful,” Harsin said. “I have full confidence in our coaching staff and team. I know they will continue to prepare with the same intensity and focus that they have since camp started.”
Auburn opens the season Sept. 4 against Akron.