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Comparing the Alabama quarterback battle to 2015 competition

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•07/25/23•

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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Alabama quarterback battle is very similar to the 2015 quarterback situation, as On3’s Andy Staples and Jesse Simonton discussed at SEC Media Days.

It’s a three-way battle between transfer Tyler Buchner, young gun Ty Simpson and last year’s backup Jalen Milroe. But Staples and Simonton are unsure if anyone is going to emerge as “the guy” or it’ll be a decision held off until Week 1.

Head coach Nick Saban didn’t make any drastic decisions on the position quite yet.

“Tyler Buchner, Ty Simpson, Jalen Milroe, we’re gonna find out, Nick Saban is not going to tip his hand on that,” Staples said on his podcast live from SEC Media Days. “We’re probably finding out Week 1. And he said, you know, he’ll pick a guy if a guy emerges. But if a guy has not emerged, then potentially they go into Week 1, trying to figure it out still.”

Simonton remembered how Alabama had a similar situation not too long ago and started Blake Barnett in Game 1 before Jalen Hurts took over for the rest of the season.

“We’ve seen (Saban) do that before and it may not be the guy they picked to start Week 1,” Simonton said. “A la what happened with Jalen Hurts, he didn’t start … Comes in gets in and you know, he comes off the bench against USC and leads them to a monster win and never gives up the job until Tua (Tagovailoa) takes it a year later.”

Once Staples discussed the 2015 team, it’s actually interesting to look at the Crimson Tide as a whole, not just the Alabama quarterback race.

That 2015 team wen 14-1 and won the College Football Playoff National Championship 45-40 over Clemson.

“I liken this to 2015 where it’s a five man race, Jake Coker winds up winning it but they still start Cooper Bateman against Ole Miss,” Staples said. “Because they still weren’t quite sure, they lose that game. But Coker came back in in the middle of it almost brought him back in there was oh, this is the guy who our offensive players coalesce around. He’s not a huge NFL prospect.

“He’s not perfect, but he’ll get it done. And that’s what happened. We’ll see this time. Do they have somebody like that? That can just manage things and get the job done?”

Buchner, Simpson or Milroe? Who do you place your bets on and can any of them as Alabama quarterback bring the Crimson Tide back to the promised land?