It certainly appears as of now that while it may be uncharacteristic, Alabama will likely carry five quarterbacks on its roster through the 2023 season. After the addition of Tyler Buchner from Notre Dame and lack of someone transferring out despite the expectation that one would, it leaves probably a three man battle over the summer with the two freshman just behind.
Given the fact that the game will likely get out of hand, it is all but a guarantee that multiple quarterbacks will play in the opener against Middle Tennessee State. So the real question becomes: who starts the Texas game week two? While it seems like Alabama wouldn’t bring in Tyler Buchner to sit on the bench, I still believe he has a leg down on both Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson simply due to lack of time at Alabama.
One would hope that one of Milroe or Simpson separates themselves from the pack over the summer, but if not, Buchner could certainly compete for the job. Could it be possible that one of Eli Holstein or Dylan Lonergan could throw their hat in the ring? I really don’t think so, but who knows at this point.
As we sit here towards the end of May, I am inclined to think that Jalen Milroe will start against Texas. This does not necessarily mean he will be the starter all season, but in a close battle like this, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Nick Saban lean on experience first. For Buchner, it feels like start or bust and if he is not the starter, he will likely be the third string.
Don’t discount the possibility of Ty Simpson winning the job either, but I think it is more likely that he would come in due to Milroe not getting it done rather than outright winning the job heading into the season. In fact, I believe this is the most likely outcome. But headed into the Texas game, here is my current (emphasis on current) prediction for how the QB depth chart will look:
1. Jalen Milroe
2. Ty Simpson
3. Tyler Buchner
4. Eli Holstein
5. Dylan Lonergan
There is still much to be figured out as the summer approaches, but the quarterback battle will remain the hottest story in Tuscaloosa.
