2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Quarterback

Alabama has a quarterback battle carrying into fall camp for the first time since 2018.

It is the million dollar question on everyone's mind as Alabama opens fall camp Thursday: Who will be the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide in 2023?

As a program, Alabama is on a run of almost unprecedented quarterback play with the last four starters for the Crimson Tide at the position (Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Bryce Young) all expected to be starters in the NFL this season. 

And for the first time in a few seasons, there is a lot of uncertainty at the position. Redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe has the most experience after backing Young up last season and seeing some intense game action after Young went down with an injury. 

Milroe has special ability with his legs, which adds an extra element to his game, but had trouble holding on to the ball last season. 

Redshirt freshman Ty Simpson also has a year in the program under his belt, but didn't see much action in his freshman season. Head coach Nick Saban did not name a starter throughout the spring, and both Milroe and Simpson took reps with the first team during the A-Day scrimmage back in April. 

Neither put on a particularly inspiring performance in the spring scrimmage. leading Alabama to go look for another quarterback in the transfer portal. 

New offensive coordinator Tommy Rees brought in a guy he was familiar with from Notre Dame in transfer Tyler Buchner. The redshirt sophomore was named the starting quarterback for the Fighting Irish last season under Rees, but suffered an injury just two games in that derailed his season. 

On top of all that, Alabama signed two highly-rated quarterbacks from the 2023 class in Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan, who both enrolled early and participated in the A-Day game as well. 

Alabama has five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, Saban clarified at SEC Media Days that the competition is down to a three-man race. While he didn't specify which three, it is assumed that it is between Milroe, Simpson and Buchner. 

Saban didn't provide any hints as to who may be leading the current competition, but one thing he made crystal clear was that he will not be naming a starting quarterback anytime soon. 

"I don't think anybody has actually separated themselves yet to this point, and I don't think it's something that we're trying to rush," Saban said during his opening statement at SEC Media Days. "We've got to let this develop and make sure we let the cake bake until somebody separates themselves."

Who will emerge as the starter when Alabama opens the season against Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2? Here's a look at the options below:

Projected Depth Chart

1. Jalen Milroe (Jr.), or Tyler Buchner (RSo.), or Ty Simpson (RFr.)
2. Eli Holstein, (Fr.), or Dylan Lonergan (Fr.)

Tyler Buchner

Redshirt sophomore, 6-1, 215 pounds

Committed to Alabama on April 27 after spending two seasons at Notre Dame. Buchner appeared in 13 games with three starts over his two seasons in South Bend, throwing for 949 total yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 459 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Buchner returned from injury for Notre Dame's bowl win over South Carolina and threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Out of high school, Buchner earned a four-star rating from 247Sports, ESPN.com and Rivals. 

Eli Holstein

Freshman, 6-4, 237 pounds

Unanimous four-star recruit out of high school. Known as a strong-armed pocket passer, Holstein chose the Crimson Tide over Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU in his home state of Louisiana. He threw for 7,014 yards, 62 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions as a three-year starter at Zachary High School while adding 1,233 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns in his career. On A-Day, Holstein went 3 of 6 for 61 yards. 

Dylan Lonergan

Freshman, 6-2, 212 pounds

A consensus four-star player at quarterback, while also being a highly-rated baseball player and initially committing to play for Alabama baseball too. Lonergan threw for 3,412 yards and 32 touchdowns as a junior at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. He was 8 of 14 for 79 yards and a touchdown on A-Day. 

Jalen Milroe

Redshirt sophomore, 6-2, 220 pounds

Served as Alabama's backup quarterback in 2022 after appearing just four games to redshirt in 2021. Milroe has appeared in 12 total games over both seasons with one start against Texas A&M last season. He has 338 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions through the air with 320 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Milroe was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks as a consensus four-star prospect in the 2021 class. 

Ty Simpson

Redshirt freshman, 6-2, 203 pounds

Redshirted his first season in Tuscaloosa, appearing in just four games. Simpson completed 4 of 5 passes for 35 yards in limited game action last season. He injured his hand in the first half of the A-Day game and went 12 of 26 for 155 yards. He was named the top quarterback in the country by the On3 consensus coming out of high school. Simpson was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns with just three interceptions while adding 862 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. 

See also:

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Edge Rusher

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Cornerbacks

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Running Backs