Upcoming Match-ups

Bryce Young’s Heisman Odds Improve; Will 5-Star Freshman Start for Alabama?

Brady Trettenero

by Brady Trettenero in College Football

Updated Mar 18, 2021 · 1:42 PM PDT

Nick Saban celebrates
Alabama head coach Nick Saban celebrates victory against Florida after the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. Alabama won 52-46. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
  • Alabama Freshman QB Bryce Young’s 2020 Heisman odds have shortened to +4000
  • The 5-Star prospect will be competing against incumbent Mac Jones to be the starter for the Crimson Tide
  • Is Young worth an early summer bet to walk away with the Heisman?

The top offensive player in the prospect class of 2020 is receiving some early Heisman buzz ahead of the college football season.

Alabama signee and five-star prospect Bryce Young has seen his 2020 Heisman odds shorten from +5000 to +4000 since May 11th.

Does Young have a realistic chance at winning the Heisman as a true freshman in the SEC?

2020 Heisman Trophy Odds

Player (Position, School) Odds
Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State) +303
Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson) +333
Spencer Rattler (QB, Oklahoma) +1075
D’Eriq King (QB, Miami) +1233
Jamie Newman, (QB, UGA) +1300
Sam Ehlinger (QB, Texas) +1475
Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson) +1700
Mac Jones (QB, Alabama) +2000
Kedon Slovis (QB, USC) +2050
Chuba Hubbard (RB, Oklahoma State) +2075
Sam Howell (QB, North Carolina) +2125
Myles Brennan (QB, LSU) +2275
Kyle Trask (QB, Florida) +2300
Bo Nix (QB, Auburn) +2575
Kellen Mond (QB, Texas A&M) +2650
Bryce Young (QB, Alabama) +4000

Odds taken May 26th

Young Is an Incredible Talent

Considering Johnny Manziel (2012) and Jameis Winston (2013) are the only two players to win the Heisman as freshmen, it speaks volumes that the 18-year-old Young is being considered a top-20 Heisman contender heading into the 2020 season.

The five-star quarterback and expected successor to Tua Tagovailoa threw for 4,528 yards and 58 touchdowns with just six interceptions in his senior high school season. He also ran for 357 yards and 10 additional scores.

In four years at powerhouse Mater Dei in Pasadena, Young recorded 13,250 yards passing with 152 touchdowns with 1,084 rushing yards and 26 TDs.

YouTube video

The dual-threat QB was recognized for his incredible 2019 season by being named the Maxwell Football Club Offensive National High School Player of the Year. It should come as no surprise that he’s generating early Heisman buzz. But can Young actually win as a freshman?

Mac Jones Provides Stiff Competition

The one mistake you don’t want to make when placing a Heisman wager is betting on a player who might not even play in the season. Young isn’t going to be walking right into the starting role at Alabama. He’s going to be battling with a very good quarterback in redshirt junior Mac Jones.

Jones impressed when Tagovailoa went down with injury in 2019, throwing for 1,127 yards and 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions in four games as a starter. Even in his lone loss against a good Auburn team, Jones showed his potential by throwing for 335 yards and four TDs with two interceptions.

YouTube video

Jones’ prior experience has gives him a significant advantage over Young in the QB battle. What’s also hurting Young is that spring practices have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is supposed to be the time of year when Young gets accustomed to Alabama’s offense and starts building chemistry with the receivers. As each day wears on without spring camp, it becomes more and more likely that Jones will start Week 1 against USC.

Wait Before Betting Young

There is a reason Mac Jones is being listed as a top-10 Heisman contender this season. He didn’t disappoint when called upon in 2019 and isn’t going to hand over the role to Young just because he’s the best quarterback coming out of high school.

If Jones starts, he’ll face two big early tests against USC and Georgia (Week 3). We’ll get an idea pretty quickly of which QB Nick Saban will be rolling with.

There may be a Heisman in Young’s future, but it’s way too risky right now betting on a youngster who hasn’t even played a snap in college.

Even if he does takeover for Jones at some point in 2020, those missed games are going to have a major impact on his end-of-year numbers and potential Heisman chances. No QB has ever won the Heisman in a year in which they took over mid-season.

Young has the talent to be a future star in Alabama, but the experience of Jones and the lack of spring training makes it best to wait before laying down any Heisman money on the top recruit in the country.

Author Image