Alabama Football: The importance of signing 2020 quarterbacks

With five scholarship quarterbacks on the 2019 roster, how important is it for Alabama football to sign two top quarterbacks in the 2020 class?

For Alabama football and every other top Power Five program, it is almost impossible to sign too many top quarterbacks. Since the transfer rules have been loosened, most top QB signees not starting by their year three will transfer. So signing too many almost takes care of itself.

There is some debate how many of the Crimson Tide’s current five (not including walk-ons) are on scholarship. Frequent rumors are Paul Tyson is not on scholarship for 2019. There has also been some speculation that Layne Hatcher is not on scholarship. Tua and Lia Tagovailoa are certainly scholarship players, as is Mac Jones.

Certainly, Alabama football plans to sign at least one top QB in every class. The question for the 2020 class is should the Tide sign one or two. Given NFL early entry and transfer potential, the 2020 roster could easily be three QBs before any new signees. If Jones and Hatcher, feel they have been passed by Lia and Tyson, the returning roster number could be as low as two. These estimates presume Tua leaves early for the NFL.

Until a few weeks ago, the Alabama football staff had a top QB commit in 4-Star, Carson Beck. After Beck’s de-commit, it is presumed Florida now leads for his signature.

So many of the top rated 2020 QBs are already committed, the few left are valuable commodities. Every program, including Alabama football, has interest in the No. 1 rated Pro-Style prospect, 5-Star, D.J. Uiagalelei. Four other top 2020 QBs are committed; Jack Miller to Ohio State, Harrison Bailey to Tennessee, Drew Pyne to Notre Dame and T.J. Finley to LSU.

Alabama football is in the mix for another of the uncommitted, 4-Star C.J. Dixon of Loganville, GA. Dixon is expected to visit Tuscaloosa soon.

The latest hot name on the Crimson Tide radar is Southern Cal commit, 5-Star, Bryce Young. Young has been committed to the Trojans since July 2018.

Tosh Lupoi had been assigned to Young going back prior to last July. The situation between Young and Alabama football changed when Steve Sarkisian came in as OC. Sark has a high opinion of Young and how well he would fit into the offense Sark intends to run for the Crimson Tide. Young is considered a dual-threat QB who some recruiting experts compare to Tua in terms of skills.

The good news for Crimson Tide fans is Young seems to have a high opinion of Sark and especially the Alabama football program. No one is close to predicting Young will de-commit from the Trojans. There are strong indications the Crimson Tide might have a better chance to flip him than other programs like Oklahoma and UCLA.

Would the Crimson Tide decide to sign both Dixon and Young? Our guess is absolutely. Like we said at the top, it almost impossible to have too many quarterbacks.

Details on these signal callers are available through 247Sports. Check out the complete list of 2020 Crimson Tide Verbal Commits.