Along with four ‘quarterback unknowns’ for Saturday night’s Alabama football game against Texas A&m, there is one known QB situation. Thursday afternoon, the rumor Aggies’ QB, Max Johnson has a broken thumb, is rumor no more.
As reported by ESPN, Johnson has a broken bone in his throwing hand and could miss the rest of the season.
Jimbo Fisher is expected to start redshirt sophomore, Haynes King. King does not have the worst touchdown pass-to-interception ratio among SEC quarterbacks. South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler and Florida’s Anthony Richardson are worse. This season King has three touchdown passes and four interceptions. That ratio exactly matches the same combined total from his first two seasons as an Aggie.
Though Fisher is expected to start King, he might also play former 5-Star, QB, Conner Weigman. Along with being an elite high school quarterback, Weigman was a baseball star with MLB potential. He skipped his high school, senior baseball season to enroll early at Texas A&M. He has discussed plans of playing both sports in 2023.
Weigman is more solidly built than Haynes King and should be ready physically for college football. He is yet to take a snap in a college game. Can a 19-year-old, with zero college football game experience go into Tuscaloosa and produce? He might survive, but the odds of him handling the pressure situation and a very good Alabama football defense – are slim. Quite possibly, the odds are slim-to-none.
Fluid Alabama Football QB Situation
The Alabama football quarterback situation is also fluid. Rumors out of Tuscaloosa are Bryce Young could play, but is unlikely to start. Many Crimson Tide fans are content with Jalen Milroe not only starting but with Milroe and Ty Simpson getting all the QB snaps. That thinking is based on a strong belief the Crimson Tide can beat the Aggies without Bryce Young – and an equally strong belief Young will be needed to beat Tennessee. So why risk aggravating Young’s sore shoulder?
Nick Saban, along with his medical, training and coaching staff know best. If Bryce Young plays it would be because the Crimson Tide brain trust believes there will be no added risk.
Even if A&M did not have a quarterback dilemma, the focus of the Alabama football defense would be on Devon Achane. With Aggies’ receiver Ainias Smith lost for the season, the two Aggies with game-changing talents are Achane and true freshman receiver, Evan Stewart. Stewart has not been much of a factor yet, but Achane is the No. 1 all-purpose player in the SEC. With his speed, Achane is a threat every time he touches the ball.
What will happen Saturday night? After working with the ones this week, Jalen Milroe’s passing skills may surprise some fans. As far as the Aggie QBs – they will find the Crimson Tide defense suffocating.