Rece Davis says Alabama's quarterback play is the 'biggest thing' in 2023

The Alabama Crimson Tide have been really, really good at football the past few seasons. That’s nothing new under Nick Saban. But they haven’t won a national title since 2020. That being said, it’s not time to bury the dynasty just yet.

Alabama still won the SEC in 2021 and appeared in the national championship game that year, too. The Crimson Tide’s idea of a “disappointing season” in 2022 ended with Alabama finishing the season ranked inside the Top 5. This offseason, the Crimson Tide face plenty of uncertainty at the quarterback position in handling life after Bryce Young.

On Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Rece Davis jumped on The Paul Finebaum Show to let everyone know that success for Alabama in the 2023 season hinges on its quarterback play.

“Look, you know, I don’t think Saban’s finished and they’re on the decline,” Davis began. “But they’ve had an embarrassingly good run of quarterback play. And there were never even really a ton of questions. Say maybe Jalen Hurts’ freshman year. And he answered those quickly. Otherwise, really since then, they’ve been really solid at the quarterback position. Not just solid, they’ve been exceptional at that position.”

“This year, we don’t know that yet. So I think, it’s the most important position on the field. I know they’d like to establish the run. Get tougher on the line of scrimmage. Especially on the offensive line, be able to get short yardage. Which they haven’t really been able done well, the last couple of years, to be honest about it,” Davis continued.

“But I don’t know that you can win a championship just doing that. The quarterback’s gonna have to make plays, whether it’s Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, or Tyler Buchner. Whoever emerges as the quarterback. You’re gonna have to be able to make plays down the field. That’s the nature of the modern game. So that’s the biggest thing for me to determine whether they will be a contender or not.”

Then, the College GameDay host said with Alabama’s brutal 2023 schedule–high-caliber play at the quarterback position will be even more critical for the Crimson Tide.

“Again, we’ll probably learn a lot in the Texas game early. And their schedule in contrast to Georgia, is pretty tough. They play I think, what is it five or six of the top 13….over the course of the season. They do have the good fortune in a lot of those games are at home. But they’ve got a pretty tough road ahead of them and they’ll need a quarterback to not only win the job and mature. But to perform at a high level if they’re going to regain their customary place in contending for the SEC and the national championship,” Davis said on Thursday afternoon.

Alabama kicks off its 2023 campaign with the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. That one will kick off on Sept. 2 at 7:30 PM EST.