BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It's a pretty good bet that if a college football player from the state of Alabama wins the Heisman Trophy, he's also going to be named the state's Amateur Athlete of the Year.
All five Heisman winners since the state award was first handed out by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 1974, had done so. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young became the sixth on Tuesday, keeping the streak intact.
But it was nearly snapped.
In extremely close voting by the ASWA membership, Young edged Auburn gymnast Sunisa Lee for the honor.
While leading the Crimson Tide to the Southeastern Conference title and the National Championship Game, Young set the Alabama single-season records for passing yards (4,872) and touchdowns (47).
He finished his sophomore year 366-for-547 with 47 scores compared to seven interceptions.
In addition to being the first Crimson Tide quarterback to win the Heisman, he was also named college football's Player of the Year by the Associated Press and The Sporting News, won the Maxwell Award, and also the Davey O'Brien and Manning awards, which are both presented to the nation's top quarterback
He's the Crimson Tide's fourth Heisman winner since 2009 and second in as many seasons.
Previous Heisman winners who had been named the state's amateur athlete of the year were Bo Jackson (1985), Mark Ingram Jr. (2009), Cam Newton (2010), Jameis Winston (2013), Derrick Henry (2015), and DeVonta Smith (2020).
Pat Sullivan also won the Heisman in 1971.
Lee was the 2022 NCAA beam champion, and the runner-up in the all-around while helping lead the Tigers to their best finish in program history, placing fourth at the NCAA Championships.
ASWA Amateur Athlete of the Year Previous winners
2020 DeVonta Smith
2019 Derrick Brown
2018 Casey Mize
2017 Minkah Fitzpatrick
2016 Jonathan Allen
2015 Derrick Henry
2014 Amari Cooper
2013 Jameis Winston
2012 Brooke Pancake
2011 Trent Richardson
2010 Cam Newton
2009 Mark Ingram II
2008 DeWanna Bonner
2007 Pat White
2006 JaMarcus Russell
2005 DeMeco Ryans
2004 Jason Campbell
2003 Philip Rivers
2002 Andree Pickens
2001 Gabe Cross
2000 Gabe Cross
1999 Chris Samuels
1998 Tee Martin
1997 Tim Hudson
1996 Meredith Willard
1995 Ronald McKinnon
1994 Jay Barker
1993 Niesa Johnson
1992 Dee Foster
1991 Tim VanEgmond
1990 Phillip Doyle
1989 Gary Hollingsworth
1988 Derrick Thomas
1987 Mike Turk
1986 Cornelius Bennett
1985 Bo Jackson
1984 Rowdy Gaines
1983 David Magadan
1982 Randy Campbell
1981 Ed Lett
1980 Rowdy Gaines
1979 Joe Cribbs
1978 Reginald King
1977 Ozzie Newsome
1976 Harvey Glance
1975 Leon Douglas
1974 Jerry Pate