As a senior, he was the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and California's Gatorade Football Player of the Year after throwing for 4,528 yards and 58 touchdowns.[6][7] He was also the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year.[8] During his high school career he passed for 13,520 yards and 152 touchdowns and was a five star recruit ranked the nations #1 quarterback prospect and second overall recruit.[9][10] After originally committing to USC to play football, Young instead decided to play at Alabama.[11][12][13][14]
During his freshman year at Alabama, Young was the backup to junior quarterback Mac Jones throughout the 2020 season. On September 26, 2020, Young made his collegiate debut in the late third quarter against Missouri at Faurot Field. That night, Young went 5-of-8 for 54 passing yards with two rushing yards on four attempts.[15] On November 21, he threw his first collegiate touchdown pass in a 63–3 victory over Kentucky.[16] Young appeared in nine games in 2020, finishing the season with 156 passing yards and one touchdown.[17]
On September 4, 2021, Young made his debut as the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback.[18] In a 44–13 win over the #14 Miami Hurricanes, he passed for 344 yards and four touchdowns.[19]
On November 20, against Arkansas, Young threw for 559 yards to break the Alabama school record for passing yards in a game. The previous record was held by Scott Hunter.[20]
Young won the Heisman Trophy following the end of the 2021 season, becoming the first Alabama quarterback to win the award.[21][22] In addition to the Heisman Trophy, Young won AP Player of the Year, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Manning Award, the Maxwell Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and was a Consensus All-American.[23][24][25][26][27][28]
Overall, Young passed for 4,872 yards, 47 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions to go along with three rushing touchdowns in 15 games.[29] He led the SEC in passing yards and passing touchdowns in the 2021 season.[30]
Young started his junior season off strong with 195 passing yards and five passing touchdowns to go along with five carries for 100 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the 55–0 victory over Utah State.[31] In his junior year, Young led the Crimson Tide to an 11–2 record, including a 45–20 victory over No. 14 Kansas State in the 2022Sugar Bowl.[32][33] He finished in sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.[34] He passed for 3,328 yards, 32 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions to go along with 49 carries for 185 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in 12 games.[35] On January 2, 2023, Young announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2023 NFL Draft.[36]
Young was selected by the Carolina Panthers as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Panthers, who originally held the 9th overall pick, traded their original first round pick, wide receiver D. J. Moore, and several other draft picks to the Chicago Bears to move up to the 1st overall pick.[38]
*Note: The 2005 winner was originally awarded to Reggie Bush, but he forfeited the award in 2010 due to violating NCAA rules. The Heisman Trust subsequently decided to leave the 2005 award vacated.