For the R3cord: Predicting Alabama's starting quarterback in 2023

For years, the quarterback position has not been a problem at Alabama. Nick Saban has seen Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young make seamless transitions from one another, never letting the bar drop. So with this year’s competition, there are QB questions in Tuscaloosa for the first time in a long time.

At some point, Saban and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will have to name a starter. Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson went through spring camp before Tyler Buchner was brought in via Notre Dame to add to the competition. BOL‘s Tim Watts has stayed true to his word all along, saying Milroe will win out due to his dual-threat ability.

“For me, it comes down to Jalen Milroe,” Watts said when joining On3 CEO/founder Shannon Terry on For the R3cord. “I’ve said that since Day One. It’s almost like that Beatles line ‘it takes a sad song to make it better.’ Well, Jalen’s got that ability to take not a sad, but a bad play, and make it better. It’s not that Ty Simpson can’t run because he can run.

“And I think he’s probably the best passer of the three guys right now that are competing. I think Jalen, he’s not normal when he’s running. That’s not a normal man. He looks like Adrian Peterson to me when he runs. If he ever irons out his passing, I think this is a no-brainer.”

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Milroe may be his choice but there is still a competition unfolding heading into fall camp. Simpson has his positives, with Watts calling him the best passer of the bunch. Buchner benefits from playing under Rees for a season, even if injuries were hampering him.

“That said, I do think Buchner, Simpson are both very competitive in this,” Watts said. “Buchner knows the system, he’s been with Tommy Rees. There’s a familiarity there that Tommy Rees is probably comfortable with.”

The ability from Milroe in the run game totally separates him from the rest according to Watts. The proven track record, despite it being a small sample size, was enough to think Milroe can do enough once the full-time starter.

“To me, I’m all about explosion,” Watts said. “You saw what he did in the Arkansas game. He can turn it on at the next level.”