Jaylen Waddle looks back at Bryce Young’s Alabama campus visit with lighthearted comment

Bryce Young’s 2021 season at Alabama remains one of the most impressive performances by a college quarterback in recent memory. He completed 366 of 547 passes for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns, guiding Alabama all the way to the College Football Playoff national championship game. His steady leadership and ability to deliver in big moments earned him the Heisman Trophy.

But years later, one of his former teammates believes he deserves a small piece of that famous trophy. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle recently joked that he should receive half of Young’s Heisman because he helped convince him to choose Alabama during his campus visit. The comments were playful, yet they offered a fun behind the scenes look at how one relaxed trip helped shape the future of the Crimson Tide.

Jaylen Waddle jokingly asks Bryce Young to share his Heisman after recalling Alabama visit

Before Bryce Young became Alabama’s starting quarterback, he was committed to USC. During his visit to Alabama, Jaylen Waddle served as his host. Speaking on “The Set” podcast, Waddle shared how simple and laid back the visit really was.

“I got to take some credit because I had Bryce Young as a recruit,” Waddle said during an appearance on the most recent episode of “The Set” podcast. “He was committed to USC. …

“I had him as a recruit. He switched to Alabama. I feel like I need half of that Heisman from Alabama. I feel like I need half of the Heisman. Not the whole thing. Just send me half of it. That’s all I ask Alabama to do. That’s my recruit, bro. That’s my recruit. I switched him.”

Waddle explained that Young mostly wanted to relax and play video games during the visit rather than follow a strict schedule. “Bryce ain’t want to do nothing but play (NBA) 2K,” Waddle said. “He played 2K against Pat Surtain. Pat was my roommate. Bryce from Cali, bro. He don’t want to do nothing: ‘I want to play 2K.’

“We scooped him from what’s it called? Me, him and (Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian) chop it up, this, that and the third. Take bro back with us. He just want to play 2K. Play 2K one, two hours. Back to where we got him. I think he ate or something like that. Went to eat and played 2K and just chilling, just vibing. Good vibes because ain’t nothing to do in Alabama. Nothing to do. …"

“Send half of it. That’s all I ask. Send half of it. Send half of it, Bryce. Come on, I’m telling you. Send half of it, bro.”

From a simple Alabama visit to two first round NFL draft picks

Young eventually changed his commitment and joined Alabama, where he developed into a Heisman winner and one of the top quarterbacks in college football. Waddle had already moved on to the NFL after the 2020 season, becoming the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft. Both players now compete at the highest level, but their connection goes back to a simple campus visit filled with video games and easy conversations.


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