Alabama football QB Bryce Young declares for 2023 NFL Draft

The Sugar Bowl was Bryce Young's last game in an Alabama football uniform.

The junior quarterback announced Monday he will forgo his senior season and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Young is listed is listed as the No. 2 player on ESPN's draft prospect rankings.

Young will exit his career in Tuscaloosa as one of the most iconic quarterbacks to play for the Crimson Tide. Graduating in three years, he was the first UA quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy.

"It feels good," Young said. "This was something that really honestly was something that wasn't too drawn out. All my focus throughout the season has been on the team and making sure I was doing everything I can to help the team. Now, just a lot of prayer and discussion with my family and I feel like it's what was best for me."

During the 2021 season in which he won college football's most prestigious award, Young set the program's single-season record for passing yards with 4,872 and touchdowns with 47. His efforts in his first season as a starter won the Crimson Tide the SEC Championship and earned Alabama a spot in the College Football Playoff Championship where it lost to Georgia.

Young accounted for 50 total touchdowns in his sophomore season and 36 in his junior year. Both are in the top four all-time for Alabama players.

He's second all-time for passing yards in the program with 8,356 over three years. AJ McCarron has the record: 9,019 passing yards from 2010-13. Young's 80 touchdown passes are second only to Tua Tagovailoa (87).

Known for his ability to make plays, particularly because of his ability to evade pressure, Young put together no shortage of highlights. His best moment might have been when he led Alabama on a 97-yard drive with only 1:35 left in regulation in the 2021 Iron Bowl against Auburn. The Crimson Tide hadn't been able to do much offensively against the Tigers, but Young found a way to lead the offense down the field and threw a perfect touchdown pass to Ja'Corey Brooks to force overtime. Young's efforts kept Alabama alive in the game as well as its CFP chances.

Young said this was his favorite throw from his time at UA.

"I think it's hard for it not to be the Iron Bowl," Young said. "That's definitely the first one that comes to my head. Ja'Corey making obviously such a huge play and a huge catch."

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Young's performance in the SEC Championship Game against No. 1 Georgia also won't easily be forgotten. Facing a defense that had given up only 6.92 points per game all season, Young shined.

He completed 26 of 44 pass attempts for 421 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Young also rushed for a touchdown.

In his second season as a starter in 2022, he had to deal with a shoulder injury he sustained in the Arkansas game. Young also didn't have the same cast of supporting characters around him, which made his job more challenging.

Still, Young managed to throw a touchdown in every game he played and still made some spectacular plays. He threw multiple touchdowns in all but three games. One of those was the Arkansas game in which he didn't even play a full half.

Young finished the 2022 season with 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions over 12 games.

Young's curtain call came in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday. He passed for 321 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions as the Crimson Tide dominated Kansas State 45-20.

"I'm always going to be a part of Alabama," Young said. "I'm always going to feel like I'm part of the university. I'm forever grateful. I'm also excited for the next chapter."

Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football QB Bryce Young declares for 2023 NFL Draft