Waddle claims half of Young's Heisman before Sunday's matchup

The NFL is built on individual accolades, yet the Heisman Trophy remains a singular award tied to one player's season. Jaylen Waddle, the Denver Broncos' top wide receiver, has decided that the 2021 Heisman Trophy shared by his former Alabama teammate Bryce Young is incomplete. Waddle argues he deserves half of the hardware because of his role in bringing Young to the Crimson Tide.

Waddle hosted Young on a recruiting visit when the five-star quarterback was deciding where to play college football. That visit occurred in 2019, during a period when Young was already pledged to the University of Southern California. Waddle's pitch was simple. He played NBA 2K on a console against Pat Surtain, who was Waddle's roommate at the time. Young, who had traveled from California, was interested only in playing the video game. That interaction was enough to flip Young's commitment to Alabama, ending his pledge to the Trojans.

Young arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2020. He joined Waddle and Surtain on a national championship team, though Mac Jones started at quarterback for head coach Nick Saban that season. Waddle and Surtain declared for the NFL draft after that season, leaving Young to lead the offense the following year. In 2021, Young completed 366 of 547 passes for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns. The Crimson Tide advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship, and Young won the Heisman Trophy.

Waddle believes his recruiting efforts warrant a share of that recognition. He stated on a podcast that he feels he should receive half of the trophy and that the award's presenters should send half of it to him. He made the comment with a laugh, acknowledging the lighthearted nature of the request. The claim adds a layer of personal history to the upcoming matchup between the two players.

The Broncos will face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in North Carolina. This will be the first time Waddle and Young have played against each other in the NFL. Young is in his fourth season with the Panthers and is on pace for a career year. Waddle called his former teammate a "baller" following practice on Friday. Waddle's own season has been more difficult. He is on pace to set career lows in several statistical categories over a 17-game schedule.

Waddle has not surpassed the 50-yard receiving mark this season, except for Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In that game, he caught eight passes for 138 yards. In his previous four seasons, he averaged four games of at least 50 receiving yards through the first eight weeks. Quarterback Bo Nix has looked Waddle's way consistently. Since the season-opening loss to the Chiefs, Waddle has been targeted at least five times in every game. He leads Denver in targets.

The Panthers will be without four of their top cornerbacks on Sunday. Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, and Akayleb Evans are on injured reserve. Will Lee III has been ruled out for the game. This depletion in the secondary offers Waddle a chance to break out statistically. Nix believes Waddle is becoming more comfortable in the offense and that his plays will come down the stretch. He described Waddle as dynamic and quick.

Waddle has been asking for the ball more often in recent games. Nix noted that Waddle requested the ball shortly before scoring a touchdown near the goal line against the Chiefs. Nix also found Waddle on a scramble drill in the first half of that game, resulting in a 35-yard gain. The Broncos traded a first-round pick to acquire Waddle, signaling their intention for him to be the primary receiving option. He is not a volume receiver in the mold of Ja'Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, but he provides explosive plays when engaged.

The responsibility to involve Waddle falls on Sean Payton, Nix, and Waddle himself. Waddle has stated that wins cure all problems and that victories are what matter most. The outcome of Sunday's game will provide early evidence of whether the Broncos' offense can integrate their star receiver effectively against a weakened defensive backfield.