NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on prior to the All State Sugar Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Alabama QB battle in full swing as two signal-callers stand out

Two QBs have separated themselves from the group.

As it has over the past two offseasons, the Alabama quarterback battle appears to be a wide-open race.

While Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts took reps with the first-team offense, it was Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell that stood out at Alabama's first scrimmage.

Here's what head coach Nick Saban had to say, per 247sports:

"We haven't changed how we're doing the reps," Saban said. "We're still giving everybody a chance. I think the guys that have the most knowledge and experience played the best. When I say that, I'm talking about Cooper Bateman — who's been in the system the longest — and David Cornwell. They played the best."

As for Barnett and Hurts, Saban didn't see as much consistency out of the two younger gunslingers:

"The two younger guys, even though they demonstrated that they have a tremendous amount of upside in terms of the way they played," Saban said, "their consistency in performance because of their confusion, lack of knowledge, poise under pressure, whichever you want to talk about — which is not uncommon or surprising for young guys the first time they go out there.

"They probably weren't quite as consistent as the other guys. We're continuing to try to give everybody an opportunity. I think we'll probably do that for the rest of the spring."

Alabama will scrimmage for the second time this spring on Saturday.