Kalen DeBoer Whiffs On Top Transfer As Alabama Quarterback Picture Starts To Become More Clear
Kalen DeBoer’s most important decision during his first year as head coach at the University of Alabama is at quarterback. Who is going to lead the Crimson Tide in 2024?!
There is still a long way to go between now and August 31, when Western Kentucky rolls into Tuscaloosa for the first game of the year. Winter workouts will soon get underway Spring ball is a few months away. Fall camp isn’t even a thought.
Perhaps most importantly, a second transfer portal window is set to open up on April 16. Rosters all across the country are going to change.
However, as things currently stand, DeBoer has three options from which to choose at the most important position on the field. “As things currently stand” is the key here. It’s fluid.
Jalen Milroe made it clear that he intended to be the starting quarterback again the next season.It is now 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 may still decide to use the gateway. As of January 10, 30 days have passed since Nick Saban’s retirement.
Alabama is keeping its options open at quarterback.
An additional flurry of quarterbacks will hit the portal after the spring practice period. If DeBoer is not satisfied with the guys he has in the system, he could choose to seek someone else.
It is also possible that the 49-year-old could try and add a quarterback in the coming days/weeks. He already missed on one!
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan were prime transfer targets after Jedd Fisch left to take DeBoer’s job in Seattle. According to Fifita’s father, they both received an offer from the Crimson Tide. They both chose to stay in Tucson after the Wildcats’ top donor stepped up with NIL money.
DeBoer whiffed!
There are also other QB 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 situation. Prior to DeBoer’s departure, he had also committed to play with the Huskies. It doesn’t seem likely that they will reunite there.
From there, the list is as follows:
- Jordan McCloud, James Madison
- Jeff Sims, Nebraska
- Tanner Bailey, South Carolina
- Drew Pyne, Arizona State
- Mack Howard, Utah
Those names don’t necessarily jump out off of the page. Especially when you have Milroe, Simpson and Lonergan.
Kalen DeBoer has a decision to make!
