Alabama's quarterback depth very quickly became a potential issue for the Tide going into the College Football Playoff. The second and third quarterbacks from the roster, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell, announced that they would be transferring out of Tuscaloosa -- Blake Barnett already left the team in September and is headed to Arizona State in 2017.
Nick Saban put to rest any questions about the quarterback situation for the Peach Bowl semifinal against Washington and a potential College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa. Saban was asked whether he expected Bateman and Cornwell to be with the team for the rest of the year before transferring out.
"Oh yeah, absolutely," Saban told reporters in Atlanta on Thursday. "They have every intention of finishing the season."
Saban continued to say he was supportive of both quarterbacks and their futures but emphasized that they will stay with Alabama through the bowl games to keep depth from being an issue should something happen to Jalen Hurts.
"I think these are situations when a younger guy won the job this year that these guys want to play someplace, and we want to -- Cooper is a graduate, so he'll be a graduate transfer, and we're very supportive of these guys," Saban said, per AL.com. "They've done a fantastic job for us, and we hope that they get a good opportunity and a chance to play someplace. But they will be with our team, and they're all anxious to finish the season with us."
That's good news for the Tide, who have reinforcements coming in the Class of 2017 but would be in some trouble for the bowl game if two quarterbacks were to leave.
