Alabama will be getting the quarterback help it has looked for. Gardner Minshew, a graduate transfer from ECU, is heading to Tuscaloosa.
Minshew has been connected to the Crimson Tide since announcing that he would leave the Pirates. He took over as the starter at ECU during the 2017 season, and was the clubhouse leader to hold on to that post heading into next fall.
Instead, he will likely be a back-up, if not third-stringer, for Nick Saban’s program. His presence will be very important, though.
Minshew visited Tuscaloosa over the weekend, with most expecting that he would settle on a transfer to the Tide. He confirmed the choice to Sports Illustrated‘s Bruce Feldman this afternoon.
Alabama has about as strong a quarterback room as a college football program can have right now. After the National Championship, though, it is very much in flux.
Jalen Hurts has started most of his Alabama career, and has run up an impressive record. After he was supplanted by Tua Tagovailoa during halftime of Alabama’s national championship win over Georgia, transfer rumors have been circling.
Alabama’s decision to take Gardner Minshew may indicate that they are more than rumors.
If one of the Crimson Tide’s established QBs leaves, Minshew will step in as an experienced, talented option at the position. It also allows the former ECU signal caller to play closer to his home town of Brandon, Mississippi.
He says he is making the decision due to family matters. Tuscaloosa is just a 2.5-hour drive from home for Minshew.
During his ECU career, Minshew threw for 3,487 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. This fall, he completed 57.2-percent of his throws for 2,140 yards, 16 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Minshew put together some big stat-lines for a struggling ECU program. He threw for over 400 yards twice in his last four games, in a loss to Houston, and a blowout win over Cincinnati.