Graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew has reportedly committed to Alabama and will enroll in May. His commitment was first reported by Sports Illustrated and AL.com. Minshew confirmed to The Crimson White that he is committed to Alabama.
Minshew will serve as a fourth quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones. Due to the strong competition between Tagovailoa and Hurts, one of them could transfer if they lose the starting job. If Tagovailoa or Hurts does transfer, Alabama would only have two quarterbacks signed to a scholarship.
Alabama failed to sign a quarterback in its 2018 class, which head coach Nick Saban said is due to the youth the team has at that position.
“Look, when you have really good young players at a position, sometimes it’s hard to attract another guy at that particular position,” Saban said on National Signing Day. “I think you all know our circumstance at quarterback right now with the players we have here, the grade they are in and how much more eligibility they have.”
Saban went on to say that Alabama could add a player at that position through other means, which is where Minshew came into play.
“Rather than reach for somebody, we would rather try to solve the issue another way,” Saban said. “Maybe get a more experienced guy down the road, and certainly think that next year we might be in a position to get a really good player at that position who could be someone who could impact us in the future.”
Minshew is a needed addition with only three quarterbacks on the roster and the cloudy future for Tagovailoa and Hurts. He appeared in 10 games last season for Eastern Carolina and threw for 2,140 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He started five games for the Pirates.
Minshew chose Alabama over Tennessee. He will be coached by Dan Enos, who Alabama hired last week to serve as associate head coach and quarterbacks coach. Enos spent four years as the Central Michigan head coach and two years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Minshew played for Eastern Carolina for three seasons. He came from Brandon High School in Brandon, Miss. He stands at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. Before playing at Eastern Carolina, he played for Northwest Mississippi Community College. As a JUCO quarterback, 247Sports.com rated him as a 3-star recruit.
