Over the course of the 2023 college football offseason, Alabama’s quarterback competition, to replace Heisman winner Bryce Young, went from a two-man race, to a three-man race, to a possible four-man competition.
There was much speculation as to which quarterback was the expected starter. Jalen Milroe was the only one to start a game for Alabama in the past, Ty Simpson showed promise,
Tyler Buchner had a history with Tommy Rees and Dylan Lonergan was the freshman to impress during fall camp.
In the Week 1 win against Middle Tennessee, Milroe was the clear QB1, but the competition could be far from over.
Here are five expectations for the quarterback situation as the 2023 season continues.
Milroe's job to lose When news broke that Jalen Milroe would be QB1 for the beginning of the Middle Tennessee game,
I believe many people expected that it wouldn’t mean much other than that he would be the first quarterback to take the field.
Instead, Milroe was the clear quarterback for the Crimson Tide with Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson getting some reps late in the game.
As we look forward to the Week 2 matchup against Texas, I’d expect that to stay the same. After a five-touchdown performance, it’s apparently Milroe’s job to lose.
Buchner vs. Simpson for QB2 It’s clear that for the time being, Milroe sits atop the QB depth chart. However, that doesn’t mean that someone else could step up if they outshine him, or if he regresses.
This is far from over Yes, Milroe looked excellent against Middle Tennessee. However, it was Middle Tennessee. If he gets the start against Texas and struggles, fans will be demanding a change at quarterback.
Dylan Lonergan will continue to impress... in practice Late in the offseason, we heard a lot about true freshman quarterback Dylan Lonergan and how much he impressed.
There will be transfers One quarterback who has not been named in this story is true freshman Eli Holstein.
Not to say that he’s not capable of winning the job one day, nor is it that he’s impatient. Look at Mac Jones, he waited nearly four years before becoming a starter.