How many quarterbacks does Alabama want to have on its roster?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Do Alabama’s offensive coaches have a specific number of quarterbacks it wants to have on its roster each year? Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said, in most cases, there is a set number, but it also depends on the season and situation.

“Everybody would ideally have four scholarship quarterbacks,” Sheridan said on Wednesday. “Is that always going to be the case? I think every situation, year to year, is a little bit different. We’ve had years where there’s been three. We’ve had years where there’s been five. But ideally, you try to have four to have a healthy, competitive room – one in each class typically. But it doesn’t mean that you have to. 

“I think at any position, you have an ideal number that you’d like to have to have the depth and the competition that you’re looking for, and yet, some years, there’s maybe one or more at another position and you just kind of manage that and try to make your roster, top to bottom, as competitive and as deep as you can.”

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban agreed with Sheridan, and the Crimson Tide had four scholarship quarterbacks on its 2024 roster before Dylan Lonergan entered the transfer portal and committed to Boston College. As it prepares for a ReliaQuest Bowl matchup with Michigan, Alabama has three scholarship quarterbacks for its final game of 2024.

Jalen Milroe announced he’ll play in the Tide’s postseason game, but the expectation is Milroe will turn pro following the 2024 campaign. That would leave UA with three signal-callers for the upcoming fall – Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell.

After Wednesday’s bowl practice, DeBoer spoke highly of Mack’s growth this year.

“He’s one of the hardest workers on the team,” DeBoer said. “There’s a lot of guys that pour a lot into it. He’s doing stuff on his own pretty much every day. You pick an early-morning time when we don’t have a practice, he’s doing something in some facility in here. You bounce around and all of a sudden, you hear a ball being thrown and hear someone moving, he’s one of those guys. He’s a gym rat

“Reps, I’ve said it a lot of different times in a lot of different ways, whether it’s staff and our reps or players’ reps, really help you gain confidence because the preparation leads to that. So he’s really come a long way. It’s fun seeing him take advantage of even the scout-team reps and just his ability to throw the ball where he wants it. Sometimes that’s a great opportunity because if you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. But you can keep honing in on your skills.

“He did a lot this year to help those guys with the defense, and now, he’s getting more and more reps. So I’m excited about his future, for sure.”

Simpson will be the most experienced player in Alabama’s 2025 quarterback room and the early favorite to win the job. Mack followed DeBoer and company from Washington to Tuscaloosa and now has a year in the Tide strength program. Russell will arrive on UA’s campus in January as the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit, and all three will compete for the starting spot.

Speaking for the first time since signing day, Sheridan shared his thoughts on Russell.

“There’s no freshman that we bring here to wait,” Sheridan said. “Every freshman, we bring them in here to compete right away. Some positions, that’s more challenging than others. But we’re gonna try to get him as ready as we can as quickly as possible. That’s no different for any player in our program is we’re trying to get them to play their very best each and every day. 

“So for a freshman, that’s not that different of a process than for an upperclassman that’s looking to take the next step or have an increased role. And I think the thing, like all great players, is always the character of the person. I think he’s got very good leadership. He’s a good kid. Loves to compete. He’s confident. 

“He certainly has the traits of somebody that you’d be excited to add to your program, and yet, he knows he’s gotta earn it. That’s ultimately how you develop the trust amongst your team and amongst your teammates is by what you do, not by what you say.”

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