Elite QB Bryce Young competes at the Elite 11 Finals.



FRISCO, Texas — Alabama’s primary quarterback target in the 2020 class has been and continues to be USC commit Bryce Young.

The Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei product arrived at the Elite 11 Finals on Saturday ready to compete against the nation’s top tier signal callers, and work to further establish himself as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in America.

On the recruiting circuit, Young has kept things fairly low key since committing to the Trojans roughly 11 months ago.

“For me, I’m committed to SC,” he told BamaOnLine. “I’ve been committed for a while. Other schools have been talking to me and always communicating. You always hear people out. I feel like there’s always stuff I can learn from those heads of programs. But for me, you know, I’m committed to SC.”

Alabama’s a team that offered and showed interest in Young prior to his commitment to USC. However, once Steve Sarkisian made his way back to Tuscaloosa, Young has emerged as the Tide’s No. 1 option.

“It’s not really much of a mix to be in for me,” Young responded when asked if the Tide was legitimately in the mix for him. “My recruitment’s closed, but again, like I said, it’s always great to learn from other people and talk to them but, for me, I’m committed.”

Sarkisian and the Young family go way back to the elite quarterback’s seventh grade year.

“I’ve known him for a while, known him when he was at SC, talked with him some at Washington, so that’s someone I’ve known for a while,” Young said. “He’s a great guy, great coach, so I have a lot of respect — the utmost respect — for him, and that’s why there’s been communication with the respect that I have for him and everything like that.”

Young and the UA staff stay in frequent communication. Nick Saban FaceTimed with the family last week.

“Just the opportunity to come in and compete,” Young said of Saban’s pitch. “That’s something that’s going to be wherever I’m at. I’m going to have to compete and work and prove myself wherever I go. He’s talked to me about the quarterback room, how he would love to see me compete and work. It’s a big honor to talk to Coach Saban and Coach Sark. I have a lot of respect for them and their program.”

Young gave his thoughts on the depth chart in Tuscaloosa.

“Tua (Tagovailoa) most likely will be gone, so I think that’s something to consider,” he said. “It’s a great situation. Again, I have a lot of respect for Alabama and the system they run there. Just for me, it’s kind of more overwhelming the fact that I get to be a Trojan. That’s where my head’s at.”

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When it comes to the Trojans, a lot of uncertainty surrounds Clay Helton and his job security if USC falters for a second straight year. Young says he’s not worried.

“I don’t (have concerns) because I have complete confidence in the staff and the players that they’re going to be successful,” he said.

Should there be a change at head coach this season, would that affect Young’s recruitment?

“My heart would still be at SC,” he said. “For me, it obviously would depend on who they brought in. I don’t see it happening, but I still have to step back and look at things, look at systems and stuff like that.”

At 6-foot, 176 pounds, Young is rated the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 37 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.