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Bama News
During every broadcast of The Paul Finebaum Show, there's a call or two that defines the show and they're rarely from special guests. Finebaum's daily callers are a unique bunch, from SEC homers to fans of other conferences who chime in just to try and chide one of college football media's biggest entities.
Earlier this week, 'Mike from Kentucky' shared his two cents on Alabama five-star freshman Bryce Young, who many believe is going to challenge Mac Jones for the Crimson Tide's starting job next season. Mike assured Finebaum and listeners Young will be the best signal caller Alabama has ever seen and in fact, is more talented than outgoing record-setter Tua Tagovailoa.
No wonder Nick Saban gushed over the top-ranked player in the 2020 class per the 247Sports Composite during the Early Signing Period.
"Bryce Young is not only better than Tua Tagovailoa, he’s way better than Tua Tagovailoa,” Mike said, drawing pause from Finebaum during Monday's show. “Do you know that kid played the best talent the United States had to offer? I noticed him two years ago when he defeated IMG Academy. They’re a freaking four or five-star factory. They can’t even play for a state title they’re so loaded with talent.
"Bryce Young played 10 times the talent Tua did in high school and threw for over 100 more touchdowns. He is extraterrestrial good. All hell is coming to college football next year and he’ll be wearing Crimson and White."
Lofty expectations, eh? The Gatorade Football Player of the Year in California, Young led Mater Dei High School to the state title game this past season and finished second nationally in the high school rankings. As a senior this fall, the fie-star recruit completed 72.6 percent of his passes for 4,528 yards and 58 touchdowns with only six interceptions.
He also rushed 73 times for 357 yards and 10 more scores to account for 68 total touchdowns in 13 games. The 6-foot, 190-pound dual-threat quarterback finished his prep career with 13,250 passing yards and 152 passing touchdowns to go along with 1,084 rushing yards and 26 more scores.
He accounted for 178 total touchdowns under head coach Bruce Rollinson, who said Young is the “greatest quarterback in school history.” Young will get his share of reps as a true freshman in Tuscaloosa vs. Jones, the projected QB1 at this point heading into spring practice.
But there's a lot of time between now and Alabama's opener vs. USC.
“We don’t really want to place any great expectations on any of our recruits,” Saban told hosts Barton Simmons and Josh Pate during 247Sports' National Signing Day Show earlier this month. “Bryce is a talented young man. He’s got great competitive character. He’s a great person. He’s a good leader. He’s played in a very successful program.”
