ESPN's Pete Thamel shares update on Alabama QB competition, how Dylan Lonergan could impact long-term decision

Earlier this week, Nick Saban said the Alabama QB competition was “sort of taking shape” as Week 1 approaches. Still, it appears a decision could come down just before the game against Middle Tennessee.

On Friday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided an update on where things stand and agreed with Saban’s indication that the battle won’t end with the first game.

Saban previously said the season opener is “not the end” of Alabama’s QB competition between Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson. That could mean the starter against MTSU isn’t the same as the starter against Texas. No matter who the starting quarterback is, though, Thamel expects the trenches to be what stands out about Tommy Rees’ offense.

“I think that race will sharpen its focus going into next week, and I expect Alabama will start multiple quarterbacks at times this year,” Thamel told Kelsey Riggs on College Football Live. “I think what Nick Saban has told us without directly telling us is that the identity of the Alabama offense is going to change. He invoked the name of our colleague, Greg McElroy, who was a fine college quarterback, more of a game manager than a playmaker.

“And I really think Alabama’s offensive identity is going to start, Kelsey, with their offensive line. So it wouldn’t surprise me if Jalen Milroe, who’s more of a dual threat, starts the season as Alabama’s quarterback and then, Tyler Buchner’s still playing catch-up. He obviously wasn’t there in the spring.”

With that in mind, though, Thamel pointed out another quarterback who’s impressing through camp. There’s been some chatter about Dylan Lonergan this summer, and Saban gave him some lofty praise during his weekly press conference. He was a key part of Alabama’s highly rated recruiting class and checked in as the No. 13-ranked quarterback from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Thamel said Lonergan has impressed through camp and might be able to work in some reps, depending on what Saban decides to do at quarterback.

“Dylan Lonergan, the true freshman who was there in the spring, has been a little bit of the buzz at camp,” Thamel said. “I’m not saying he’s going to start day one. But it wouldn’t be surprising if they can’t find an answer there, if later in the year, they maybe go to him.”

Alabama opens the season against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 2 before a pivotal game against Texas one week later at Bryant Denny Stadium. Whether or not the Crimson Tide will roll out the same quarterback in both games, though, is yet to be seen.

“Where you all think that whoever we name is a starter for the first game, that’s like the end of it,” Saban said this week. “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. And the guy that doesn’t play has got every opportunity to practice and be more consistent and win the team over so that when he gets an opportunity to play, he plays really well. I mean, we have changed quarterbacks around here a few times during the season. So I know you guys are looking for an end, but it’s not even going to be the end in the first game.”