Nick Saban and Alabama have rarely had a big disagreement over the starting quarterback position. With Bryce Young no longer on the field for the Crimson Tide, Saban and his coaching staff are in for an unprecedented battle to determine their starting quarterback. And, with little over a week until kickoff, Alabama's quarterback competition is far from finished.
Following the departure of Alabama's Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young, the club's quarterback room was left with a huge void, which the organization has been looking to fill. The starting quarterback position has been narrowed down to redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe, sophomore Tyler Buchner, and rookie Ty Simpson.
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None of these names stick out among the prior quarterbacks to lead Nick Saban and Alabama's offense. Besides, Saban has made it clear that whatever quarterback makes it past training camp and into the starting lineup for Alabama's season opener does not have a lock on the job.
“Where you all think that whoever we name is a starter for the first game, that’s like the end of it. It’s not the end of it. It’s just the beginning. What if a guy doesn’t play good? He’s not entitled to keep playing ... So I know you guys are looking for an end, but it’s not even going to be the end in the first game," Saban told the media after practice on Wednesday.
When Nick Saban took over as coach of the Crimson Tide, those early great Alabama teams could win with a high school quarterback as their starting quarterback. However, circumstances have changed, and the previous few quarterbacks to lead Alabama's offense have all thrived as NFL stars.
With names like Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and most recently Bryce Young starting at quarterback for the Tide, a corresponding drop-off in output is expected from the current crop of signal callers.
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Although Milroe, Simpson, and Buchner have struggled throughout training camp to woo Nick Saban, it does not appear that Saban has noticed the x-factor in his quarterbacks as of yet. When Alabama opens its season against Middle Tennessee next week, someone needs to be in the starting lineup.
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For the time being, Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson are the favorites to lead the starting lineup. Milroe was Bryce Young's backup last season and has the most experience in Saban's and the Tide's offense. Simpson, on the other hand, may have an advantage over Milroe for the starting spot because he is the most accurate passer in the group.
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Buchner, on the other hand, remains a dark horse as a starter, owing to his knowledge and chemistry with new Tide offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Which of the three quarterbacks become a solidified starter will be revealed as the season goes on, but they will have a tough task at hand replacing Bryce Young as Alabama is already under pressure to make a deep playoff run while Georgia is once again the favorites to win it all this season.
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Before leaving for the NFL, Young led the Crimson Tide to an 11-2 record in his junior year, including a 45-20 victory over No. 14 Kansas State in the 2022 Sugar Bowl. He was voted sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. In 12 games, he passed for 3,328 yards, 32 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions while also running for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries.