Zabien Brown, a second-year defensive back for Alabama, credits Bryce Young for helping to ignite the trend of California athletes choosing the Crimson Tide. Both hailing from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, Young’s success at Alabama as a former five-star recruit paved the way for players like Brown.

After earning freshman All-SEC honors with three interceptions, Brown reflects on how Young’s legacy influenced his decision to commit to Alabama over schools like USC and Ohio State. Now, as Brown continues to build on his early success, he remains determined to achieve even more in his career.

The California-to-Alabama pipeline under Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer has proven effective, with Brown showing no signs of slowing down.