ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr reveals why Alabama's Bryce Young is not the top QB on his board
A five-star recruit from the Class of 2020, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021. With that, he secured his place in college football as one of the best players in the game’s history. Still, according to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr, Bryce Young isn’t the best quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
During an appearance on Get Up, Kiper explained why he has CJ Stroud and Will Levis ahead of Bryce Young, as far as quarterbacks are concerned, on his big board.
“It’s his size,” Mel Kiper Jr. said. “5-foot-11 about 185-190 [lbs], Greenie. That’s something we haven’t had at the top of the first round ever, really.”
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“So, I think you look at Bryce Young. He’s the ultimate point guard. He processes better than any of the quarterbacks I’ve seen in recent memory. So, there’s a lot to love about Bryce Young. You just wish he was a little bigger.”
Kiper then emphasized that Bryce Young isn’t just short. He’s slight of frame, which other NFL quarterbacks who are short tend not to be. This isn’t an issue when you look at his arm strength or accuracy, but it could lead to long-term injury concerns.
“He doesn’t have the frame of a Russell Wilson or a Kyler Murray. So, he’s not going to be able to put on a lot of weight. Can he hold up at five-foot-eleven, say 185-190 in the NFL? That’s gonna be the question moving forward at the pro level.”
There’s nothing that Bryce Young can do about what Mel Kiper Jr. or the NFL scouts think about his size. However, he can keep playing his best and prove them wrong.
Bryce Young explained his pregame routine
Bryce Young explained his pregame routine and how it prepares him to play his best during his media availability.
“Yeah, I’ve definitely been doing the same warmup for a while now, back before I got here,” Bryce Young said.
“Having that consistency, I think that’s something that helps me a lot and it’s something that I’m comfortable with. And, you know, everything is always changing week-to-week. You’re in different venues, you’re preparing to go against a different defense, whatever it may be, but having that sort of consistency before the game is definitely helpful for me and I don’t think it’s anything specific–as far as not being a ritual guy or anything like that–but having a sense of consistency.”