Bryce Young under 6 feet tall and gained over 200 pounds at the NFL Combine on Saturday. The former Alabama quarterback’s official size and arguably first overall drew an immediate backlash from various media figures, from those who question his reserve due to size, or from many who overlook his height due to his collegiate work.
While historical trends say otherwise, it’s hard to argue with 79 touchdown passes and 8,200 yards in 27 college starts for the Crimson Tide.
“I’ve been this size, with all due respect, all my life,” Young said via BamaOnLine. “I know who I am. I know what I can do. I think that’s fair. Everyone can speculate and ask any questions, but I will continue to control what I can control. I will continue to work hard to put myself in a good position. And I’m confident. I know what I can do. I’m just excited to take it to the next level.”
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Here are some of the media coverage of Yang’s weighing at the mill.
Young’s initial comparison to former 2019 No. 1 Kyler Murray, who won the Heisman Trophy and starred in Oklahoma before finding his NFL home in Arizona. The measurements are nearly identical, although Murray is more of a climbing-type quarterback. Young has always been the one to pass first and then run.
You can count on the fingers of one hand how many quarterbacks under 6 feet have been elite players in the NFL, so history suggests that Young may have a problem with his height. NFL-level midfield obviously has narrower windows, and Young won’t see as many guys running free as he did in his Tuscaloosa days.
Given the SEC’s level of defensive talent, Young has been at his best against college football’s top players throughout his career. With a slew of SEC A-listers expected to leave in early April, Young will see a slew of talent on the scrimmage line on a weekly basis.
Young has blasted the SEC defense throughout the 2021 season en route to the Heisman honors and did the same last fall as a junior with an auxiliary roster not as strong as earlier in his career. Young, during his Heisman speech, mentioned his size and how many doubted him from the beginning due to his height.
Young has been number one overall in various recent jokes leading up to the unification, and according to this NFL insider, his height won’t change the fact that he’s likely to be the first quarterback taken. That could change if his Pro Day doesn’t go according to plan or if a quarterback looking for a franchise opts for a taller, bigger option first.
It’s a challenge for Young to be one of the smallest predicted first-round quarterbacks in NFL Draft history, according to the analyst. He will have to refute the historical evidence that players of his size in the quarterback position are simply No become different producers on the next level.
This is more in line with the consensus of those who have watched Young analyze some of the best college football quarterbacks in each of the last two seasons as the SEC’s top quarterback.
Weight was considered a possible issue for Young, who many scouts believed could have dropped below 200 pounds at the Indianapolis weigh-in. A couple of extra meals on the road may have helped the former Alabama star, who officially weighed in at 204 pounds.
Source: 247sports.com
