Tennessee football: Top 10 SEC stars Vols have to account for in 2022
1. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Quarterback. Bryce Young. 829. Alabama Crimson Tide
6’0″ 194 pounds
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Yes, Alabama is that dominant that Will Anderson Jr. doesn’t even top the list of players from there on here. Last year’s Heisman winner has to top this spot. Bryce Young is the only reason Hendon Hooker isn’t considered in the running for the best quarterback in the SEC this year. He’s also the one guy who earned the title over Hooker clear-cut.
Last year, as a freshman, Young completed 366-of-547 passes (66.9 percent) for an insane 4,872 yards (8.9 yards per attempt), 47 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s a pure pocket passer, but he also had 81 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns last year, largely because he avoided negative plays, something Hooker still needs to work on.
When needed, though, Young can move, similar to what Aaron Rodgers does, and he showed that last year against Tennessee football. In that game, he had 42 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Quarterback containment was an issue for UT all year, and Young knew to cash in on that, which is what he did.
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Even if he did lose his top two targets at receiver, Alabama reloads there every year. Young will be fine, and Tennessee football’s pass defense may be worse on its own given the losses of Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson. As a result, expect Young to dominate them again. He’s the best player they’ll face all season.