NEWSLETTER
Well, that happened fast. On Tuesday, former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner officially entered the transfer portal after the Irish spring game. Buchner took a trip down to Tuscaloosa just one day later on Wednesday. Today, he’s officially a member of the Crimson Tide.
The move doesn’t come as too big of a surprise. It was widely speculated on Tuesday after Buchner’s announcement that Alabama would be the likely landing spot. Tommy Rees, who was Buchner’s QB coach and Offensive Coordinator during his time at Notre Dame, left for Alabama this offseason.
For the first time in seemingly forever, Alabama has had questions at the quarterback position all offseason. That means Buchner has a chance to come in and start right away for the Crimson Tide.
Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson had been battling it out for the Bama starting QB job this spring. Neither impressed during the spring game nor much during spring practice. Milroe also struggled in limited playing time last season, while Bryce Young was sidelined.
Tyler Buchner now enters that competition with a very clear path to winning the job. It’s not every day a quarterback transfers from Notre Dame to Alabama to improve his playing time chances. But after the Sam Hartman transfer from Wake Forest to South Bend and Hartman’s fantastic spring game performance, it became clear that Buchner’s only path to playing was an injury.
Buchner struggled in his two starts for the Irish last season to open the season. Notre Dame lost to Ohio State on the road, then Marshall shocked them at home the next week. The sophomore QB did, however, return in time for ND’s Gator Bowl win over South Carolina. Buchner threw for three TDs and ran in for two more. He also tossed three interceptions, two of which were pick-sixes.
Time will tell if Tyler Buchner will succeed in the SEC. On paper, this move makes all the sense in the world for both sides.
