Why Bryce Young gives Alabama football a leg up on Georgia in transfer market | Toppmeyer

The allure of playing four seasons for good ol’ State U isn’t what it used to be for some college football players.

The NCAA made it easier than ever for players to move freely between schools, and transfers are occurring at a record rate.

For some, transferring is an avenue to more playing time. Additionally, some Group of Five standouts are seizing the opportunity to finish their career at a Power Five program. Others transfer because of a coaching departure, while some transfer to shop for the best name, image and likeness deal.

Add this to the list of reasons to transfer: The chance to play alongside an elite quarterback.

At least, that was my first thought when Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton announced Sunday that he will transfer to Alabama.

Burton has not publicly discussed his reasons for transferring – maybe he craved a closer proximity to Archibald’s – but playing wide receiver in an offense operated by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young seems appealing.

Burton became Alabama’s third transfer addition who projects as a high-impact starter next season, joining running back Jahmyr Gibbs from Georgia Tech and Eli Ricks from LSU.

Gibbs gained an opportunity to play on a grander stage, while Ricks left amid LSU’s coaching transition. For Burton, Alabama positions him to become more of an offensive focal point.

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Burton eschewed trying to help Georgia repeat as national champions. He caught two passes in Georgia’s 33-18 triumph over Alabama earlier this month as the Bulldogs captured their first national title since 1980.

College football, at its core, is a proving ground for players aiming to earn an NFL payday, and Alabama’s offense should give Burton a platform to showcase his ability.

Georgia fans are understandably irked by Burton's transfer to an SEC rival, but this is a logical business move.

Despite being one of Georgia’s best receivers last season, Burton was targeted just 53 times, and he averaged 27.7 offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Comparatively, Alabama’s top receiver Jameson Williams was targeted 115 times, and he averaged 55.5 offensive snaps.

Williams can attest to what a season catching passes from Young can do for a wide receiver’s pro prospects. He tallied 1,572 receiving yards and earned All-America honors last season after transferring to Alabama from Ohio State, where he caught 15 passes in two seasons.

Young benefited from the speedy Williams just as much. Williams could turn short passes into quality gains or take the top of the defense on deep routes.

One of Alabama’s biggest offseason assignments was securing more playmakers to supplement rising sophomore wide receivers Ja’Corey Brooks, JoJo Earle and Agiye Hall, who are long on potential but short on experience.

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Burton and Young each graduated from California high schools. The Golden Coast connection could become Alabama’s marquee passing option in 2022, following the departures of Williams, John Metchie III and Slade Bolden, the team’s top three leaders in receptions last season.

Burton will supply game-changing speed. He had 53 career receptions and more than 900 yards in two seasons playing in Georgia’s run-first offense.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV makes for a great story. The former walk-on, whose parents graduated from Georgia, became a starter who hoisted the championship trophy. Bennett quieted doubters by throwing five touchdowns with no interceptions in two College Football Playoff victories to cap a standout season. He’ll return for a final ride in 2022.

Still, as much as Bennett’s climb from unheralded recruit to national champion might put a smile on your face, playing with Young can help put zeros on an NFL paycheck.

For all of coach Kirby Smart’s success at Georgia, the Bulldogs haven’t had a wide receiver selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since A.J. Green went No. 4 overall in 2011 — when Mark Richt was coach.

Williams projects to become the fifth Alabama receiver selected in the first round in the past three years. Playing alongside quarterbacks like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Young helped elevate those Alabama wide receivers.

Now, Burton has a chance to cash in.

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.