Alabama has its 10th student-athlete testing the NCAA transfer portal waters, and this one comes from its quarterback room.
Dylan Lonergan, a former four-star in the 2023 recruiting class from Brookwood (Ga.) High School, is taking his talents elsewhere. He was a very good high school quarterback and pitcher in baseball.
Lonergan was the best looking signal-caller for the Crimson Tide in the 2023 spring game.
Many fans felt he should have been the starting quarterback spring practice, but Jalen Milroe ended up winning the job. Lonergan’s departure comes with him seeing Eli Holstein have the success he had in his first season at Pittsburgh as the starter.
Holstein, a Louisiana native, came in the same class as Lonergan. Holstein had 17 touchdown passes to seven interceptions as the Panthers finished 7-5 with a bowl game.
Lonergan wants to go somewhere that he can be the guy offensively for a team. Jalen Milroe is projected to be a first-round pick for next year’s NFL Draft.
Should he pursue it, Alabama would have Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell (freshman) on its depth chart for next year.
If Milroe were to pursue the transfer portal, the roster of quarterbacks returning would be the same.
It will be interesting to see what Kalen DeBoer does in terms of either going with what Alabama has or looking into the portal for a quarterback.
Lonergan is prepared to become a starter somewhere else.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
