Alabama Football: How far into Fall Camp the Tide can rep 3 QBs

Alabama Football has a quarterback dilemma, but it does not have a QB controversy. A typical Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback controversy centers on the strong beliefs of some Alabama fans that QB2 is better than QB1.

Such a controversy is impossible when fall camp begins in a few weeks. A simple reason why is fall camp will begin without a QB1. This means there will not be a QB2 either.  Instead, there will be five scholarship quarterbacks knowing they must deliver quickly.

Nick Saban has never faced such a fall camp situation. All five deserve a chance to at least compete for QB1. But will there be enough reps to go around? Talking about the coaching challenge a few weeks ago, Nick Saban said,

"We are trying to get everybody organized. It is a competition, and we hope the competition makes everyone better."

Saban is right, of course, but there is no luxury of time. Though the official date has not been released Alabama’s 2023 fall camp will begin on the third or fourth of August. The first fall camp scrimmage is expected to be on Aug. 12 and the final fall camp scrimmage is expected to be a week later on Aug. 19.

Three weeks after the second fall camp scrimmage, Alabama Football hosts Texas.

Alabama Football Practices

When Alabama hits the practice field on Aug. 21, can it effectively continue to rep three potential starters? One theory is it will because Nick Saban will want each of his top three QBs to get meaningful snaps against Middle Tennessee State. Staying unsettled, with the roster’s QB1 line having two ‘ors’ until the start of week two, puts added pressure on the game preparation of Steve Sarkisian and Pete Kwiatkowski.

There are other theories. One is Jalen Milroe has earned such deep respect from his teammates that his only risk is losing his status as the offense’s team leader. A counter theory is that Ty Simpson has made the most progress since the A-Day game. Simpson did some good things in the spring game, but he was inconsistent. However, he played most of that scrimmage with sprained UCL on his throwing hand. Simpson also had passes dropped in the A-Day game. Now healthy, some Alabama football insiders believe Simpson will take the Tide’s first offensive snap against Texas.

There is another premise and it is more a question than a theory. It suggests that Nick Saban would have never added transfer QB, Tyler Buchner after spring work was finished unless he and Tommy Rees were unsure about all of the other four.

Which guy will win the QB competition is a mystery. But bet on it being the guy who consistently makes the most, correct reads and the fewest mistakes.