Alabama NewsCenter 2022 football preview: University of Alabama
Alabama quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young practices with the Crimson Tide in advance of the team's 2022 football season, which begins Saturday. Alabama head coach Nick Saban, known for expecting total commitment from his players, says he honestly can't ask for more than he's getting from Young. (Kent Gidley / Alabama Athletics)
Nick Saban admits he couldn’t ask for more from quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson Jr.
He doesn’t ask because they’re always asking so much of themselves.
“I’m talking about talented guys that have all the right stuff to develop their talent to be the best that they can be,” said the coach, whose Crimson Tide kicks off its season at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against Utah State on the SEC Network. “These guys have tremendous pride in performance. I have never been happier with two guys in terms of what they mean to the program, how they’ve represented the program, what they’ve done to impact the people around them in the program.”
Saban is hardly the only person with that opinion. Young and Anderson are in the running for college football’s grandest prize.
The Draft Kings Sportsbook has Young and Anderson as top contenders for the Heisman Trophy. Following Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at +220, Young, the defending Heisman winner, has the next best odds at +400.
Anderson is fourth on the list at +1,600, with Southern California signal-caller Caleb Williams third at +700.
Saban was asked what he wants Young to do to improve. Simply put: Nothing.
“I want Bryce to maintain the right mindset in terms of how he prepares, how he practices, how he impacts the players around him, because that will have a significant impact on how well he can play,” the coach said. “Quarterback is a difficult position to play if the players around you don’t play well, whether it’s the receivers, the offensive line, the ability to run the ball, create balance.”
Saban often talks about his players creating value for themselves, and Young is no exception. Key for the junior from Pasadena, California, is staying in the right mindset to do what he needs to be the best player he can be.
“I’m sure that Bryce would love to be a quarterback in the National Football League and I think how he does this year will have a significant impact on that part of how he develops his career,” the coach said. “We certainly want to do everything that we can to enhance that and help him develop the skill set and the people around him to be able to have the kind of production that will enhance his opportunities in the future.”
Saban said he can’t say enough good things about the kind of player Anderson was in high school and his attitude about developing since he’s been a college player.
“Will Anderson, we thought for us, because we play a 3-4 (defense), was a perfect fit for the outside linebacker position,” he said. “If you don’t play a 3-4, some of those guys have to become defensive ends or they have to become standup inside stack ‘backers. Guys like Will Anderson can make a tremendous impact on our team.”
Like Young, Saban said, Anderson is “another guy that has A-plus character, A-plus work ethic, really good leadership qualities in terms of the example that he sets and how he impacts and affects other people in a positive way. He’s also a hard worker and a guy that’s driven every day to try to improve and be the best player that he can be.”
While a roster of Bryce Youngs and Will Andersons may be a tall order, the Alabama coach said he wants everyone to follow their lead in pursuit of their best selves.
“We’re just trying to get as many guys to play winning football as we possibly can,” Saban said of his consensus No. 1 squad. “There’s a lot of competition on our team right now, which I think really helps you develop the kind of depth that you need on the team because guys are out there every day working hard. One of the things we’ve tried to emphasize to our players is whether you’re going to start or be a backup, you’ve got to prepare yourself to be ready to go when you get your opportunity.
“A lot of guys kind of slack off a little bit when they don’t think they’re going to play or they’re not going to start or whatever their role might be,” he said. “Then when they do get to play and they do get to be called on, they’re not ready to go. We’re trying to emphasize that so that we get more players on the team who can play winning football for us, and we’re going to continue to do that at every position.”
Alabama NewsCenter has posted season previews for all 16 college football programs in Alabama. Read previews for Jacksonville State University, the University of North Alabama, Alabama State University, Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University, Faulkner University, Tuskegee University, the University of West Alabama, Troy University, Miles College, Huntingdon College, Alabama A&M University, UAB, the University of South Alabama and Auburn University. Also read a preview of this week’s games.
