As the anticipation builds for the quickly-approaching college football season, one of the biggest storylines is who will be Alabama’s starting quarterback?
Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban is holding an open competition – and three talented and intriguing quarterbacks are battling at camp for the top spot.
The three contenders in the spotlight are Jalen Milroe, who boasts the most experience playing under Saban, Ty Simpson, a top-ranked prospect with a spectacular arm, and Tyler Buchner, a versatile transfer from Notre Dame who has displayed game-ready skills and is very familiar with new Tide offensive coordinator Tommy Rees from their days together with the Irish.
Saban gave a heated update on the competition and made his thought process and expectations very clear.
“What I tell the quarterbacks is, ‘It’s not up to the coaches. You’re looking over your shoulder to see if the coach is gonna do this or that. How about you forcing me to play you? Force us to play you. When you get your reps and you get a chance to play, you play so good we don’t have any choice but to play you.'”
Nick Saban said what he said about the quarterback race 🗣️😯 pic.twitter.com/zZmuiM7kD0
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) August 15, 2023
Saban’s high standards are well-known in the football world, and he clearly wants one of the three to grab the starting job by the horns and truly earn it.
So why is there a quarterback competition? Because of things like this.
If not for Jalen Milroe’s negative moments like these, he’d likely already be the starting quarterback for #Alabama.
This type of stuff will not fly this year — Nick Saban just won’t have it. pic.twitter.com/f921a6S75i
— Austin Hannon (@austinhannon_) August 15, 2023
Alabama’s 2023 season is set to kick off on September 2nd against Middle Tennessee State.
Who do you think will win the starting quarterback job?
How do you think the Tide will do this season?