Four-star QB Dylan Lonergan felt 'needed' at Alabama

Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood four-star quarterback Dylan Lonergan was a priority at Alabama. The word ‘need’ was thrown around a lot by Alabama’s pursuit of Lonergan.

The Crimson Tide won over the No. 86 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings. Lonergan is sold on Alabama. He is Alabama’s second quarterback in the class of 2023. Four-star Eli Holstein is the other quarterback pledged to the Crimson Tide.

Lonergan wrestled with his decision for a few weeks.

Alabama won out with its history, development opportunities and precedent of working around two elite commitments in the same class.

“The overall who they’ve been for the last 10 to 15 years and what the coaches have sold me on,” Lonergan told On3. “They’ve really made a jump in recruiting me these last few weeks. The word that stuck out to me was ‘need’. They kept saying they needed me. That really stuck out to me. I took that to heart.”

Lonergan is at peace with Alabama’s plan for him and Holstein.

“They really showed how few quarterbacks they had in the room that are on scholarship,” Lonergan said. “It’ll be just a regular room. Me and Eli (Holstein) will be coming in the same class. You’ve just got to compete for the job.”

The Crimson Tide’s success with Tua Tagovailoa and Mack Jones played a role for Lonergan.

“That definitely impacted my decision,” Lonergan said. “It just showed that they’ve been successful at that. Both quarterbacks have played and been successful and gone on to play in the NFL. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Development is top-notch for Dylan Lonergan at Alabama

Alabama sends quarterbacks to the NFL at a high clip. Lonergan wants that opportunity for development. The Crimson Tide had back-to-back first-round selections in Tagovailoa and Jones.

Their current signal-caller Bryce Young has a Heisman Trophy. Young is projected as a high first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

For Lonergan, Bill O’Brien was a key. He wants to learn from the former NFL head coach. Lonergan has a lot of respect for the way O’Brien operates as a coach.

“They can really get me to being an NFL-type quarterback,” Lonergan said. “They’ve done it the past three or four quarterbacks that they’ve had. Bill O’Brien is one of the best quarterback coaches out there. He coached in the NFL. He’s really going to teach me how to lead the offense and teach me to know what I’m doing and help me know what I’m seeing.”

The baseball factor

Alabama is onboard with Lonergan as a dual-sport prospect. Lonergan has long wanted to play baseball and football collegiately.

Alabama will allow him to do both. Lonergan has high expectations on the football field. He also plans on making similar expectations on the baseball field. Alabama’s football program has been a championship program for a decade.

That standard will follow him over to baseball in the spring.

“They’re on the rise right now, they have a new coaching staff that came in a few years ago and they’ve slowly been getting better,” Lonergan said. “I expect we’re going to do some good things over there.”