Former Alabama HC Nick Saban drops bold verdict on seeing Carolina Panthers' Bryce Young getting benched
Bryce Young has been in the headlines this week after being benched by the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. His former Alabama coach, Nick Saban, is in a new role as an ESPN commentator, which offers him a unique opportunity to discuss various aspects of the football landscape.
Fellow ESPN personality Pat McAfee asked him about Young. Saban might have surprised many viewers with his candor, as he felt the Panthers were to blame:
"I hate to see Bryce Young get benched but I also don't see a lot of opportunity for him to be successful based on the skill players and offensive line around him... He's the type of player that can operate really well when he has good players around him."
As Young's college coach, Saban is clearly well-qualified to discuss his upside, potential and abilities. The celebrated former coach has become a sensation in his new role as an ESPN commentator, offering the benefit of his experience with candor on many topics.
The evolution of Bryce Young from Alabama to the Carolina Panthers
Despite being 5-foot-11, Young was a heavily recruited prep prospect out of California, and 247sports ranked him as the top national prospect in the class of 2020. Young was primarily recruited by then-Bama assists Steve Sarkisian, now the coach at Texas.
Young took just two official visits, one to USC and then to Alabama. He chose the Tide and joined Alabama's mammoth recruiting class. Young played only sparingly as a freshman but then started for Alabama in 2021 and 2022.
He won the Heisman Trophy in 2021, passing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns while leading the Tide. His 2022 season featured 3,328 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. After the season, Young entered the NFL draft and was chosen first by the Carolina Panthers. From there, his pro career has been a struggle.
Since picking Young with the top pick of the 2023 NFL draft, Carolina has struggled mightily. Young has started all 18 games he has played in the NFL and is 2-16 in the league.
Young hasn't been effective. He has completed 59 percent of his throws and has just 11 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in his pro career. This week, news broke that the Panthers have elected to bench Young in Week 3.
The question of whether the team's form lands on Young is an ongoing debate and Nick Saban's comments are certainly not without relevance. Carolina's overall talent has been noticeably lacking, and while Bryce Young was surrounded by a wealth of elite talent at Alabama, he has not had quite the same luxury in the NFL.
What do you think of Nick Saban's comments on Bryce Young and the Panthers? Share your thoughts below in our comments section!