Former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner commits to Alabama

The Alabama Crimson Tide hopped in the NCAA transfer portal looking for help at quarterback following a rough showing at the position during their A-game. And it appears they have found some help just before the closing of the spring portal window. Former Notre Dame starting quarterback Tyler Buchner has committed to play for Nick Saban and Alabama in 2023, he announced on Thursday.

On3’s Matt Zenitz and Pete Nakos were first to confirm that Buchner was on a visit in Tuscaloosa a day after entering the portal. Buchner was once the heir apparent at quarterback at Notre Dame until injury derailed his 2022 season. Now, he reunites with the man who believed in him with the Fighting Irish — new Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. And with the Crimson Tide quarterback battle still up in the air, he will have an opportunity to win another starting job at another premier college football power

Buchner is a former four-star recruit out of Helix (CA) who was a member of the 2021 recruit cycle, and was the No. 94 overall recruit in the nation at the time, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

pic.twitter.com/pwELZbLXz7

— Tyler Buchner (@tylerbuchner) April 27, 2023

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

What Buchner brings to the table

For some, it would be hard to pin-point just what Buchner brings talent-wise to Alabama. But a source close to the situation told On3’s Matt Zenitz what the Crimson Tide can expect out of Buchner in 2023.

“I think the offense needs to fit him,” a coaching source told On3’s Matt Zenitz. “I think he has the ability. I think he’s really good at running the ball. He’s very athletic and very quick. He makes people miss in space. He can definitely hurt you with his legs. I think he has the arm strength and everything to make the throws. He’s just very inconsistent and sometimes he makes decisions that you’re just like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I don’t know if the system (at Notre Dame) necessarily fit him.

“I think he excels being able to use his legs, get in space and add that kind of element to the game. I think that’s what kind of helps him and makes him feel more comfortable because you could even see in the bowl game when he ran a Q counter down near the goal line and he takes off and scores. That’s his forte. I think that’s where he excels is being able to use his legs to beat defenders and create space and extend plays. I don’t think it’s best to ask him to sit back and sit in the pocket and be like a pro-style quarterback.”

Transfer portal background information

The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

The process of entering the portal is done through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database and everything is off and running. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request and that request cannot be refused.

Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship no longer has to be honored. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school is not obligated to provide a scholarship anymore.

The database is a normal database, sortable by a variety of topics, including (of course) sport and name. A player’s individual entry includes basic details such as contact info, whether the player was on scholarship and whether the player is transferring as a graduate student.

A player can ask that a “do not contact” tag be placed on the report. In those instances, the players don’t want to be contacted by schools unless they’ve initiated the communication.

The portal has been around since Oct. 15, 2018 and the new calendar cycle within the portal begins each August. For example, the 2021-22 cycle started Aug. 1. During the 2020-21 cycle, 2,626 FBS football players entered the transfer portal (including walk-ons). That comes after 1,681 entered during the 2019-20 cycle and 1,709 during the abbreviated 2018-19 cycle. In comparison, 1,833 Division I basketball players entered the portal during the 2020-21 cycle after totals of 1,020 in 2019-20 and 1,063 in 2018-19.