Heisman Trophy Winner 2021: Speech and Highlights from Bryce Young's Presentation

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVDecember 12, 2021

Heisman Trophy finalist Alabama quarterback Bryce Young speaks with members of the media before attending the Heisman Trophy award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

AP Photo/John Minchillo

To the surprise of very few, Bryce Young was named the Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night, following an award season that also saw him claim the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards.

A humble Young thanked his family, teammates and coaches, among others in his speech while noting that previous doubts about his size at the quarterback position didn't leave him wanting to prove everyone else wrong, but wanting to prove to himself he could be great.

ESPN @espn
The moment Bryce Young won the 2021 Heisman Trophy 👏 <a href="https://t.co/dwg5kXRhgU">pic.twitter.com/dwg5kXRhgU</a>

Pete Thamel @PeteThamel
Classy speech by Bryce Young. He’ll be the face of the sport for the next year. Have to think the sport is in good hands. Young thanks everyone — weight staff, teammates, finalists and high school coaches. Bravo, Bryce.

"I've always been someone who's been labeled as not the prototype. Being an African-American quarterback and being quote-unquote undersized and not being that prototype, I've always been ruled out and counted out. People a lot of times have told me that I wasn't going to be able to make it. And for me, it's always been about, not really proving them wrong but proving to myself what I can accomplish. I've always pushed myself to work the hardest and I try my best to do all I can to maximize all that I can do. And thanks to the people around me and the grace of God, I've been able to make it here, and I'm truly grateful for that."

DeVonta Smith @DeVontaSmith_6
BACK TO BACK ! <a href="https://twitter.com/_bryce_young?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_bryce_young</a>

Marlon Humphrey @marlon_humphrey
It’s Different at BAMA. Come play with the best

This year's Heisman balloting wasn't particularly close:

Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoAP
Heisman landslide. Young was named on 90% of ballots, seventh best in history. Received 83% of all possible points, seventh best. 684 first-place votes is tenth highest total.

eric sondheimer @latsondheimer
Bryce Young received 684 first-place votes for the Heisman Trophy. The next closest received 78.

Young made history Saturday, becoming the first Alabama quarterback in program history to win the Heisman. He's the fourth player in Crimson Tide history to win the vaunted award, joining running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (2020).