Bryce Young

Bryce Young was born on July 25, 2001, in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, later moving to Pasadena, California, where he spent most of his childhood. He attended Cathedral High School in Los Angeles before transferring to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, in 2018. During his senior year, Young was named the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and California’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year, throwing for 4,528 yards and 58 touchdowns. He also received the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year award. Over his high school career, he accumulated 13,520 passing yards and 152 touchdowns, earning recognition as the nation’s top quarterback prospect and second overall recruit. Initially committed to USC, Young ultimately chose to play college football at the University of Alabama, where he developed a friendship with C. J. Stroud, who would also be a top NFL draft pick.

Young’s collegiate career at Alabama began in 2020 as a backup quarterback. He made his debut in September 2020 against Missouri and threw his first collegiate touchdown in November 2020 against Kentucky. In 2021, he became the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, making his debut against the Miami Hurricanes with 344 yards and four touchdowns. That same year, he broke Alabama’s single-game passing record with 559 yards against Arkansas. His exceptional performance led him to win the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Alabama quarterback to receive the award. He also secured several other accolades, including the AP Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award, and SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He finished his sophomore year with 4,872 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and three rushing touchdowns across 15 games. In his junior year (2022), Young continued to lead Alabama, passing for 3,328 yards and 32 touchdowns, and contributing four rushing touchdowns. He guided the team to an 11–2 record, culminating in a victory at the Sugar Bowl. After his junior year, Young declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young was selected as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers. He signed a four-year, $37.9 million fully guaranteed rookie contract. His NFL debut on September 10, 2023, against the Atlanta Falcons, featured his first career touchdown pass. Despite a challenging rookie season, which included missing a game due to a sprained ankle, Young secured his first NFL win against the Houston Texans in Week 8, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown. He led a game-winning drive against the Falcons in Week 15 and had his best rookie performance against the Green Bay Packers with 312 yards and two touchdowns. Young finished his rookie season with 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. In the 2024 season, after being benched early, he was reinstated as the starter and led the Panthers to consecutive wins for the first time since 2022. He concluded his sophomore year with improved statistics, including 2,104 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and significantly improved passer rating and QBR, with head coach Dave Canales confirming him as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season.