Nick Saban compares Alabama starting quarterback battle to process of baking a cake

Curious who the Alabama starting quarterback in 2023 will be? You might have to wait a while, because coach Nick Saban is going to let things cook for a bit before making any decisions.

Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner will all get a chance to show what they can do in fall camp.

“All those players are getting better and it’s important for us that all those players get better,” Saban said. “I don’t think anybody has actually separated themselves yet to this point, and I don’t think it’s something that we’re trying to rush.”

Whoever takes the job will have big shoes to fill. The Crimson Tide are just two years removed from a Heisman Trophy winning performance at quarterback.

And while he didn’t quite duplicate that performance a year ago, Bryce Young was still good enough to earn himself the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His decision-making and leadership will be tough to replace.

The next Alabama starting quarterback will have to prove to Saban he can take the heat.

“I used the analogy earlier, Grandma Saban used to bake the best cakes in the world and I used to stand by the oven when I was a kid and say, ‘When’s this cake going to be done? When’s this cake going to be done.’ And she said, ‘If I don’t let it go through and take it out the oven too soon it’ll turn to mush and it won’t be a really good cake,'” Saban said.

“So I think we’ve got to let this sort of develop and let the cake bake until somebody separates themselves. All the players are working hard, they all have a good attitude, they’re all competing well.”

Buchner joined the mix after transferring in from Notre Dame this offseason. He went 46-of-83 passing for 651 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions a year ago.

He’s joined in the competition by Milroe, who filled in for Young during a stretch in the middle of the season as Young battled a shoulder injury.

“Look, I talked about expectations before. And we’re focusing on how do we develop the players that we have?” Saban said. “And we want to develop all the players. Everyone wants to know who the starter is, what about the backup guy who has to go in and play like Jalen Milroe did last year against Texas A&M, how he finished the Arkansas game. It’s important that all these guys continue to develop and everybody at that position develops into where they can play winning football.”

Milroe finished the season 31-of-53 passing for 297 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He also added 263 yards and a touchdown rushing, providing a dual threat.

Simpson is a former highly regarded recruit.

Simply put, there are plenty of options for Saban to work with as he looks for the next Alabama starting quarterback.

“We want somebody to play winning football at that position,” Saban said. “Quarterback is a unique position in that you distribute the ball on every play, whether you hand it off, whether you choose the play that we run, whether you hand it off, whether you throw an advantaged throw, making decisions in the passing game to throw it to the right guys in the right time in the right place accurately. So who can do that with the most consistently and be a leader on our team who has an impact on the other players is also important, because quarterback may be one of the most difficult positions to play if the people around you don’t play well.

“So I think that’s a challenge for us too is to get the people around our quarterbacks to play well so that it’s a little easier for them to be able to have success at the position when they get the opportunity.

All three guys will get their shot to become the next Alabama starting quarterback, because Saban plans to let that cake bake fully before making the call.

“Like all teams we probably have some issues that are created by graduations and people leaving the program,” Saban said. “Obviously the No. 1 that people are most interested in is the quarterback. We had a great quarterback, won the Heisman Trophy. Bryce did a fantastic job for us, so we have three guys that are competing for that position right now.

“I just think that I used the cake analogy because it’s not done yet. It’s not. There’s not a decision that needs to be made at this point in time, nor are we ready to make that decision at this point in time until somebody separates themselves.”