Alabama QB Tyler Buchner tabbed as spring transfer set to make biggest impact
Alabama has added just a single transfer player during the spring window, and it came at the position everyone expected.
As the spring period went on, it became more and more apparent the Crimson Tide were going to seek out help in the quarterback room. On Saturday, they landed former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner.
With the spring portal window closing on Monday, ESPN pulled together a few of its college football experts to survey which teams made the most of the window and which players are in positions to make the biggest impacts at their new schools. Buchner, unsurprisingly, was tabbed by Craig Haubert as the guy most likely to make the biggest impact:
The Crimson Tide have a key role to fill on their roster with the departure of QB Bryce Young, and who takes his place remains a question. They have options on campus including Jalen Milroe, who gained some experience last season, and they signed two ESPN 300 QBs this past cycle, but none are sure plug-and-play answers.
To address this need, they added Buchner, Notre Dame’s top signee in 2021. While an injury sidelined him most of last season, he comes with valuable experience as a starter and ended his time with the Fighting Irish on a high note with an MVP performance in a bowl game win over South Carolina. He also reunites with his former offensive coordinator in Tommy Rees, who is now at Alabama as well. This addition could give Alabama a talented and experienced hand at the wheel of the offense of a national title contender.
Buchner went into the 2022 season at Notre Dame as the starter, but an early-season injury limited him to just 3 appearances. With all signs pointing to Sam Hartman winning the Notre Dame quarterback battle following the spring, Buchner elected to hit the portal. At Alabama, he’s expected to win the starting job in camp over Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson.
“We wanted to give our quarterbacks in our program every opportunity to win the job in spring practice,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said over the weekend. “We felt like we needed to add some competition in the room.”
Buchner certainly does that.