Bryce Young, an Alabama football standout, is an elite combination of instincts, intelligence with a good arm, and a creative playmaker who excels at buying time while seeing the entire field. And at the 2023 NFL Draft, the poised leader became the number one draft pick finding a new home with the Carolina Panthers.
“It’s surreal. It’s a dream come true. I’m blessed,” Young said. “I want to thank God for allowing me to be here, for my parents and everyone who supported me.”
David Tepper, the team’s owner, believes that with Young on the roster the Panthers have a shot at the Super Bowl next year.
“We thought this guy has the best probability of winning us Super Bowls,” he told Sports Illustrated. The way he throws the ball, the way he’s a point guard, how you can use the different players on the field, how you might not have to have as many elite receivers because he’s the point guard, right? So he distributes the ball to people with routes.”
The 21-year-old has never been shy about sharing his Christian faith.
Both his Instagram and Twitter profiles read, “Follower of Christ” and users also notice his Twitter banner photo, which displays a cross.
As CBN News previously reported, Young has consistently given all the glory to God throughout his football career, especially after he led the #1 Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship title in 2021.
“I work to be the best version of myself that I can be and to embody Christ in all that I do,” Young told the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “So, for me, regardless of how someone else views me, whatever award, accolade, what someone may say … at the end of the day, what motivates me and pushes me is to model myself after the Lord.”
His accomplishments include throwing for 8,200 yards and 79 touchdowns, leading the team to an SEC championship, and appearing in the national championship game in 2021, Sports Spectrum reports. He also became the first quarterback in school history to throw for 3,000 yards in two different seasons.
Despite what he had done on the field, Young says his faith keeps him grounded.
“For me, it definitely goes to my roots. I’m based in faith,” he said on the podcast. “I’m blessed to have the family that I do that introduced me [to faith] when I was young. Throughout my life, my relationship has grown with the Lord and my faith has improved. Through that, I work to be the best version of myself that I can be and to embody Christ in all that I do.”
Young is heading off to the Panthers to help turn around the franchise and will be under the tutelage of new Panthers head coach Frank Reich, a fellow Christian.
“I bring my faith in all that I do,” he said. “I work hard and try to do my best to represent God through football. Whether it’s small things, big things, whatever it is, I understand that God’s with me.”