Waddle Says He Wants ‘Half’ Of Bryce Young’s Heisman Trophy

The Denver Broncos are on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and receiver Jaylen Waddle will face quarterback Bryce Young. Waddle took a trip down memory lane when he was asked about this, saying he was responsible for bringing Young to Alabama, where they both starred for the Crimson Tide, although not in the same season. 

Young was committed to USC when he made his recruiting visit, and Waddle says it was his pitch that flipped Young to Alabama, according to a piece from Sam Jane of the Denver Post. The quarterback spent much of the visit playing NBA 2K with current Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, who was also with Alabama that year. The result was a national championship for the Crimson Tide in 2020, although Waddle caught passes that year from quarterback Mac Jones. 

The following year, though, it was Young’s turn, as he, too, led Alabama to a national title, and he won the Heisman Trophy in the process. 

Waddle joked that Alabama should “get half of that Heisman” when he was asked about this, but things have taken a decidedly different turn for both players in the NFL. 

The receiver was supposed to be a star when he was traded from the Miami Dolphins, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Waddle is off to his worst start as a pro, and he’s on pace to set career lows in several statistical categories. 

Young, meanwhile, is on track to have a career year for the Panthers, and he’ll be a sneaky challenge for the Denver defense. He’s thrown for almost 2,000 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, and Young has the Panthers positioned atop the NFC South despite the fact that their record is a a subpar 3-4. 

The Broncos are still trying to get Waddle going, and he hasn’t been happy lately. He’s been showing signs of coming around for the last couple of weeks, though, and when asked about his frustrations, he simple said, “We’re winning. That cures all.”

Denver will be facing a depleted secondary on Sunday, which could represent an opportunity for Waddle. Three of Carolina’s top corners, Jaycee Horn Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans, are all on injured reserved, and a fourth,  Will Lee III, has been ruled out. 

Waddle leads Denver’s receivers in targets, but they haven’t led to production yet. Quarterback Bo Nix said he’s been calling for the ball more, and the quarterback says Waddle is starting to look more comfortable in the offense as the Broncos try to get the big plays they need from him in the second half of the season.