Alabama football made a change at the quarterback position, and it brought mixed reviews.
Tyler Buchner, a transfer from Notre Dame, gets the start for the Crimson Tide versus South Florida. Nick Saban and his staff made the move on Friday, according to a report from ESPN’s Chris Low. Alabama suffered a 24-34 loss to Texas last week, and the team wants to give Buchner a look to see what he can provide. Jalen Milroe started the first two games of the season; however, he tossed two interceptions against the Longhorns. Tide fans are looking forward to watching Buchner lead the offense under Tommy Rees at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, but an ESPN analyst is ‘uncertain’ about Milroe’s future with the team after the move.
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Robert Griffin III, a former Heisman Trophy winner for Baylor, said Milroe brings an added element to the game.
He is concerned about where Milroe goes next.
“It makes me wonder about Jalen Milroe’s future there…why didn’t they just start Tyler Buchner from the beginning of the year?”@RGIII questions the timing of the reported QB change at Alabama pic.twitter.com/ZOZCeUS8ak
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) September 15, 2023
“When you look at all three quarterbacks, they have some element of mobility,” Griffin said about Milroe, Buchner, and Ty Simpson in Alabama’s quarterback room.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alabama have a quarterback that has the quick twitch ability that Jalen Milroe does. I don’t know Milroe so this is not an emotional take. I have no ties there to him, but it is more of an understanding of how you manage the quarterback position. This is not Jalen Hurts getting benched for Tua Tagovailoa. Jalen had played a ton of football, he had won a lot of games, and his confidence was not going to go anywhere. Whereas with Milroe, you can count on your hands how many times he’s started a game in college football. For a talented guy like Milroe, who did respond extremely well in the Texas game, it makes you wonder what’s next for him.”
RELATED: Alabama expected to start Tyler Buchner at quarterback versus USF
Milroe did have two touchdown passes versus Texas, but he will watch Buchner take the field first against South Florida.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
