Alabama Football: Finding fourth scholarship QB for ’23

Nick Saban wants to 2023 Alabama football roster to have four scholarship quarterbacks. Given Bryce Young is expected to move on to the NFL after the 2022 season, Saban needs to add one more.

After Eli Holstein committed to the Crimson Tide, recruiting experts significantly lowered Alabama’s chances to add 5-Star, QB Arch Manning. Manning has not eliminated the Tide and is still planning a mid-June visit to Tuscaloosa.

The college football world would be stunned if that visit led to a commitment. The Mannings don’t share where Arch might be leaning, but most recruiting experts think it will be Texas or Georgia. Another unknown is whether Manning choosing the Tide would cause Holstein to change his mind.

Nick Saban has offered seven quarterbacks in the 2023 class. Manning and 4-Star Dylan Lonergan are the only two uncommitted.

One of the seven is, of course, Eli Holstein. The other four are 5-Star, Malachi Nelson (Southern Cal), 5-Star, Nicholaus Iamaleava (Tennessee), 4-Star, Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) and 3-Star, Marcel Reed (Ole Miss).

The Alabama football staff has scouted several others, including 4-Star, Christopher Vizzana who committed to Clemson. It is believed Alabama did not offer Vizzana or any others so far.

Another offer could still happen unless Nick Saban is prepared to use the Transfer Portal to add a backup quarterback. Saban is not fond of using the Portal for depth. He wants to bring in transfers who can compete for key, if not starting roles. Another problem with adding a fourth QB through the Portal is the top guys will have chances to land a starting role once they step on campus somewhere other than Tuscaloosa.

Another Alabama Football QB offer?

Using the 247Sports 2023 Player Rankings, along with Arch Manning and Dylan Lonergan, there are three other Top 300 (overall player ranking) QBs yet to commit. One is 5-Star, Dante Moore who appears to have no interest in the Crimson Tide. The other two are 4-Stars, Jaden Rashada and Avery Johnson.

There has been some insider speculation Rashada might have some interest, but that unconfirmed rumor is not current. After a strong Elite 11 performance, Avery Johnson has plenty of interested programs to consider.

Alabama football fans would like to know where Nick Saban and Bill O’Brien will turn. The best guess at this point is the Alabama Crimson Tide will patiently wait for the next round of Transfer Portal options next winter and spring.

As we discussed in an earlier post, Auburn is excited about their top QB target. He is 3-Star, Brock Glenn. Glenn is ranked as the No. 460 player overall in the 2023 class.