When Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe introduced final week that he is returning for an additional season, the hosts of “The Subsequent Spherical” known as it “an early Christmas present” for Crimson Tide followers.
What’s a present for the followers and the teaching workers, nevertheless, is extra of a curse for the opposite blue-chip quarterbacks hoping for a possibility to steer the Tide in 2024 and past.
After the departure of Tyler Buchner, who left to play lacrosse at Notre Dame, Alabama nonetheless has five-star quarterback Ty Simpson and four-star quarterbacks Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan within the QB room. The Tide additionally simply added one other five-star, Julian Sayin, who enrolled early for Rose Bowl apply.
Even amid a gaggle of passers who’re proficient sufficient to begin just about wherever, Sayin stands out. Within the 247 Composite of recruiting rankings, he is the top quarterback in the country and the No. 5 participant total.
However just one quarterback can take snaps at a time, and with Milroe’s success as a starter, the true struggle shall be for the backup position for 2024 earlier than the race really opens up for the 2025 season.
With the starter spot locked down for therefore lengthy, the quarterbacks who lose out when jockeying for place will doubtless switch to a different faculty for taking part in time, particularly as their faculty eligibility continues to tick away. On this period of the switch portal, it is merely the best choice for gamers seeking to showcase their expertise for NFL groups.
It will likely be robust to see such expertise go away, however for Bama followers, there’s nonetheless hope that is finest summed up by their Rose Bowl opponent Michigan. With laborious work and a bit luck, “those that keep shall be champions.”