Alabama quarterback Bryce Young had every reason not to play in the Sugar Bowl next week. The Crimson Tide aren’t playing for a national championship and he could get injured which could affect his NFL Draft stock.
But the former Heisman Trophy quarterback decided it was best for him and his team to play and his reasons were simple: the culture at Alabama.
“I only can speak for myself and what I felt like was what I wanted to do, what I felt called to do, but I really think that, as far as everyone on the team, that really just speaks to our culture” Bryce Young said. “That speaks to the standard that we have–the culture that Coach Saban has built. I think it speaks to that, again. We all know coming in here every single day what the goal is, what our mission is, and what our standard is. So, for me, evaluating that, looking toward what I felt was the most important to me, this was the decision I came to.”
Every high school + college athlete should listen to Alabama QB Bryce Young on why he's not skipping the Sugar Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft.
"I wanted to finish with my teammates this season." pic.twitter.com/YbzPDAbV9z
— Teddy Mitrosilis (@TMitrosilis) December 20, 2022
His decision, along with All-American linebacker Will Anderson who also decided not to opt-out, may explain why the other Crimson Tide players decided to play too but Young says players should do what’s best for them as he did.
“Whatever happens in the future happens in the future,” he said. “I think every individual case is different, for sure, but it was what was best for me. What I felt like was, you know, what I wanted to do. So, you know, really I think that speaks to the standard that Coach Saban has built here.”
