Alabama to tap Tyler Buchner as starting quarterback
Three weeks into the college football season, the Alabama Crimson Tide have a new starting quarterback.
Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner is reportedly expected get the nod over Jaden Milroe, who started in Weeks 1 and 2 but struggled in a loss to No. 11 Texas last weekend. That scoop came first from 247Sports' John Talty on Friday.
Talty reported Buchner has received more first team reps in practice ahead of Alabama's game Saturday against South Florida.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Buchner transferred to Alabama in offseason after two seasons at Notre Dame, where he was recruited by now-Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
Buchner first made a name for himself as the quarterback at The Bishop's School in La Jolla, California, where he was a walking highlight who put up record-setting numbers.
As a junior, he threw for 4,400 yards and 53 touchdowns and rushed for 1,600 yards and 28 touchdowns — a head turning 6,000-plus yards of offense.
In the 2019 CIF Division II championship game, he racked up more than 600 yards of offense and eight touchdowns, five through the air and three more on the ground.
Earlier that season, Buchner tallied 760 yards of offense in a 71-42 win over Mater Dei Catholic in a game where his team set a new CIF-San Diego Section record for single-game offensive output.
He was SBLive's San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Buchner was believed to be headed to Helix (California) for his senior season but enrolled early at Notre Dame after the season was marred and delayed by COVID-related shutdowns.
He was rated the nation's No. 71 overall prospect and No. 11 quarterback in the 247Sports composite rankings.
As a sophomore, he won the Fighting Irish starting job to open the season.
Buchner did not play against Texas. He came in late in Alabama's season-opening blowout win over Middle Tennessee State and completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 27 yards.
Alabama-USF kicks on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time, as the Crimson Tide look to rebound from a College Gameday-worthy Week 2 loss.
