Mel Kiper says Alabama QB Bryce Young 'has all the skills'
Early on Tuesday morning, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his early top 25 NFL draft prospects for 2023. So, who held the top spots in those rankings? Well, two of Alabama’s biggest stars in outside linebacker Will Anderson (No. 1) and quarterback Bryce Young (No. 2).
In total, five quarterbacks made the list with Young leading the way.
- No. 2 – Bryce Young, Alabama
- No. 3 – C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
- No. 12 – Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
- No. 13 – Anthony Richardson, Florida
- No. 22 – Will Levis, Kentucky
For Kiper, Young was an easy choice for that top signal caller spot.
“The way he sees the field is phenomenal,” Kiper said. “Bryce Young is obviously the point guard distributing the football. He can move. He can run. But he chooses most of the time not to. This is a kid that has all the skills.”
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was phenomenal for Alabama this past season.
In 15 games, Young threw for an SEC-leading 4,782 yards, 47 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while completing 66.9% of his 547 pass attempts. He led the Crimson Tide to a 13-2 record with one of those losses coming against Georgia in the national title game.
Kiper does acknowledge that Young’s size could his evaluation for the next level, but he isn’t overly concerned with it.
“The knock on Young is size; he doesn’t have a huge frame, which NFL scouts will likely play up as we get closer to the draft,” Kiper said in the article. “Still, his arm is more than good enough for him to be a great signal-caller at the next level… He’s an anticipatory thrower who knows how to hit receivers where they need the ball to run after the catch. He doesn’t make many mistakes.”
If there’s one area of concern, it’s at wide receiver after Alabama lost its top three options to the NFL. Kiper believes the two additions out of the transfer portal will have to play a key role in the offense if Young wants to stay in the conversation to be a top-3 pick next April.
“He won’t have John Metchie III or Jameson Williams, but he will have Tyler Harrell coming over from Louisville and Jermaine Burton coming over from Georgia. He’ll have those two key guys. One of those two will have to step up and be the go-to option,” the ESPN analyst said.
Neither play has come close to producing at the same level as Metchie or Williams, but their previous offenses didn’t really put them in a position to. Now that they’re in Tuscaloosa, it’s possible that one — or both — could have a breakout season for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama players in Kiper’s position rankings
Bryce Young (QB1) — No. 2 overall
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB2)
Tyler Harrell (WR5)
Jermaine Burton (WR9)
Cameron Latu (TE6)
Javion Cohen (OG7)
Emil Ekiyor (OG10)
Will Anderson Jr. (DE1) — No. 1 overall
Byron Young (DE7)
Henry To’oTo’o (LB3)
Eli Ricks (CB1) — No. 8 overall
Jordan Battle (S3)
Brian Branch (S5)
DeMarcco Hellams (S7)
