Alabama football: 3 major award candidates for the Crimson Tide in 2022

Bryce Young could be the first repeat Heisman Trophy winner since Archie Griffin

It has not happened since the 1970s, but Alabama quarterback Bryce Young could be the first player to win multiple Heisman Trophies since running back Archie Griffin did it for Ohio State. Young beat out Michigan pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud to be Alabama’s first quarterback to ever hoist the Heisman Trophy.

Unfortunately, there have been many high-quality football players who have returned to school hoping to be the next Archie Griffin, so to speak, and have not gotten it done. While Hutchinson and Pickett have gone onto the NFL as first-round draft picks, Stroud looms large over in Big Ten country. He could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, ahead of even Will Anderson.

And it is not just Stroud who could prevent Young from doing seemingly the impossible and repeating as a Heisman Trophy winner. Caleb Williams could be in for a special season in his first year at USC. This may be a quarterback-driven award, but there are also several elite receivers out there who could channel their inner DeVonta Smith and start to make wideouts winning it a thing.

Since Young was able to win the Heisman a season ago, who is to say he cannot repeat in 2022?

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.