The transfer portal is out of control right now, especially for quarterbacks, but Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tyler Buchner has won the award for the craziest transfer story of the year.
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According to Inside Lacrosse CEO Terry Foy, Buchner is entering the transfer portal, not to play quarterback somewhere else, but to play lacrosse.
I’m told that Buchner will finish the Bama football season with the team (as has been reported in multiple outlets), then intends to return to Notre Dame, where he’ll join the defending @NCAALAX champions @NDlacrosse in time for the 2024 season. https://t.co/RNY6JGiwps
— Terry Foy (@TerenceFoy) December 5, 2023
Buchner had transferred to Alabama this past season to compete for the starting quarterback job. Unfortunately, he was unable to hold down the position thanks to the breakout year from Jalen Milroe, and finished the season with just 19 pass attempts and one rushing touchdown.
Prior to his college career, Buchner was actually a top lacrosse recruit in the country as well as a 4-star quarterback recruit coming out of high school in La Jolla, California. Despite offers from multiple top-tier programs, Buchner decided to head to the midwest to play for the Fighting Irish, but was unable to hold down a starting job before transferring to Alabama.
If Buchner's long-term plan is to play lacrosse for the remainder of his college career, there are certainly worse places Buchner could go than returning to his former college. The Fighting Irish lacrosse team is coming off their first national title in program history after defeating Duke 13-9 in the NCAA tournament. Longtime head coach Kevin Corrigan has led the Fighting Irish to multiple NCAA tournament appearances, conference titles, and now a national title, with Buchner hoping to work his way onto the field in a completely new sport.
According to Foy, the plan is for Buchner to stay with the Crimson Tide for the remainder of their season as they get set to face the Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff semifinals. However, once their season is over, Buchner will return to Notre Dame, hopefully as a national champion in a completely different sport.
