In his first season as head coach at the University of Alabama, Kalen DeBoer’s most significant choice will be at quarterback. In 2024, who will be the head coach of the Crimson Tide?
Until August 31, when Western Kentucky visits Tuscaloosa for the season’s opening game, a lot of work remains. Winter training will soon begin. It’s only a few months until spring ball. The idea of fall camp is nonexistent.
The opening of a second transfer portal window on April 16 is perhaps most significant. There will be changes to rosters throughout the nation.
But as it stands right now, DeBoer has three options when it comes to the most crucial position on the field. Here, “as things currently stand” is crucial. It is flexible.
Jalen Milroe made it clear that he intended to be the starting quarterback again the following season.
It is currently anticipated that Ty Simpson, a five-star prospect in the college football recruiting class of 2022, will also run it back. Then there is Dylan Lonergan, a former four-star recruit from the previous class who has not yet declared his intention to stay or depart.
Alabama also received a commitment from Julian Sayin, the top-ranked quarterback in the 2024 class. He just declared that he would be attending Ohio State.
Lonergan, Simpson, and Milroe are under DeBoer. In a theoretical sense, any one of the three could still decide to use the portal. As of January 10, 30 days have passed since Nick Saban’s retirement.
Alabama is holding out options for the quarterback position.
After spring practice, there will be another rush of quarterbacks to the portal. DeBoer has the option to look for someone else if he is not happy with the guys in the system.
The 49-year-old might also attempt to add a quarterback in the upcoming days or weeks. He’s already blown one!
Following Jedd Fisch’s departure to take a job with DeBoer in Seattle, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and quarterback Noah Fifita of Arizona were top transfer targets. Fifita’s father claims that the Crimson Tide made them both an offer. After NIL money was donated by the top Wildcats donor, they both decided to remain in Tucson.
DeBoer made a mistake!
There are still other quarterback prospects out there who are awaiting attention. In the SEC, some of them might be more intriguing than others.
Will Rogers, a former signal-caller for Mississippi State, moved to Washington with the intention of replacing Michael Penix Jr. in DeBoer’s setup. When the head coach left, he went back through the portal. Maybe they could reconcile in Tuscaloosa?
Dermaricus Davis, a 2024 four-star recruit, will experience the same thing. Prior to DeBoer’s departure, he had also committed to play for the Huskies. It doesn’t seem likely that they will reunite there.
The list goes as follows from there:
- Jordan McCloud, James Madison
- Jeff Sims, Nebraska
- Tanner Bailey, South Carolina
- Drew Pyne, Arizona State
- Mack Howard,
Utah: Those names don’t always stick out on the page. In particular, with Milroe, Simpson, and Lonergan.
Kalen DeBoer needs to make a choice!
