LOS ANGELES — Mention the name Bryce Young to any college football fan, and there are a few things that will come to mind: a special talent, an incredible arm strength, a born leader and now a Heisman Trophy winner. 

But if you ask those who truly know the Alabama quarterback, one of the first things that comes to mind is his roots. 

What You Need To Know

  • Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was the winner of the 2021 Heisman Trophy Award

  • He was the third Mater Dei player and first Alabama quarterback to hoist the prestigious trophy

  • As a sophomore in Tuscaloosa, he led the Tide to the College Football Playoff with a shot at the National Title

  • His former coach Danny Hernandez says Young is setting the standard for quarterbacks who come after him

"With Bryce at a very young age, I was always able to tell that he was different," said the quarterback's coach, Danny Hernandez. "And it feels pretty good that everyone else is starting to recognize that now."

Hernandez has been helping develop some of Southern California's top quarterbacks for over a decade. He'll be the first to tell you that before Young was dropping dimes in Tuscaloosa, he was just a kid from Pasadena with a big dream. 

"I think when you look at Bryce right away, he doesn't pass the eye test, but if you're just looking at that, you're going to miss out on so much that he brings to the table," Hernandez said.

Young's size, at just under six feet with a smaller frame than most prototypical quarterbacks, has never stopped him from excelling at Mater Dei — where he was a Gatorade Player of the Year and State Champion — or Alabama. It showed players on the field what's possible with hard work and dedication.

"Bryce has been the standard," Hernandez said. "You take a look at everything he's been able to do, and being the underdog, it's someone they've worked out with before. It's someone that they've watched his journey."

And that's certainly been the case for eighth grade quarterback Isaiah Ariaza, who grew up watching Young play with his older brother. 

"I remember him as an eighth grader working with Danny," Isaiah said. "It definitely is an eye opener."

If Young could do it, so could Isaiah.

"It's the biggest inspiration," he said. "It's what we strive to be. Just him setting that standard for us QB's out here is amazing."

And that's what has been so special about watching Young's journey for his former coach. 

"Now the kids end up taking a look at what he's been able to do, and they say, 'Hey, you know what? I think it's possible. I can do it,'" Hernandez said. "It feels good that they are part of that."