In a new series, BamaOnLine will feature each of the five quarterbacks vying for Alabama’s vacant spot under center next season. Up next is David Cornwell.

Cornwell was the No. 4 pro-style QB in the 2014 recruiting class.

David Cornwell didn’t step onto the field during a game in Alabama’s 2014 season. In fact, the freshman quarterback couldn’t even walk down a hallway without a limp two months before the Crimson Tide competed in the first-ever College Football Playoff.

Cornwell tore his ACL during his senior season at Norman North (Okla.) High School, but that wasn’t what slowed his pace as he walked to his first classes in Tuscaloosa. At the Sugar Bowl’s Media Day, the Alabama quarterback revealed he had surgery on his ankle after the team’s spring game. He was in a cast until the first day of June.

Now, however, Cornwell is finally healthy and will enter the Crimson Tide’s 2015 spring practices competing for the open spot, left by Blake Sims, at quarterback. For those wondering if the 6-foot-5, 240-pound signal caller will transfer, he said it hasn’t crossed his mind.

“Not at all, I’ll never think about transferring,” Cornwell said in New Orleans. “I’m going to stick it out here, no matter what. Finish my years, get my degree. I’ve bought into the Process. The Process doesn’t happen right away. Just as a redshirt this year, there’s so much farther to go and so much more growth and development.”

Sims’ success this past season under first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is one of the main reasons for Cornwell to be optimistic about his chances to win the starting job. Kiffin’s work with Sims showed the development a quarterback can expect to experience at Alabama in the near future, even if Kiffin doesn’t stay in Tuscaloosa more than two seasons.

That was former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier’s recruiting pitch to Cornwell, who was the No. 4 pro-style quarterback and the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma in the 2014 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

“When Coach Nussmeier recruited me, he said ‘David, I’m not going to be there all of your years,’” Cornwell said. “‘I’m not going to lie to you. And they’re going to bring in someone better than me. And they’re going to bring in someone better than him after that. Just have faith in that Coach Saban isn’t leaving so the offense will stay somewhat the same. And trust the process.’ The process is a big thing here. Once you buy into that, the opportunities are endless.”

The opportunities for Cornwell this past season came about on Alabama’s scout team. Cooper Bateman served as the dual-threat quarterback, simulating opponents like Dak Prescott and Nick Marshall. But what was Cornwell’s role on the scout team?

“Passing downs. Wednesday and Thursday are our big passing down days,” Cornwell said. “I’d always try to get in there for two-minute. Back when Cooper was running the dual-threat offenses, they’d try to give me more passing downs. I feel like that’s my strength. Throwing the ball and reading the defense.”

Nick Saban and his coaching staff have obviously recognized Cornwell’s ability to make plays with his arm. Now, it’s up to him to go out this spring and compete to try to win the vacant quarterback job against the four other Crimson Tide gun slingers.

“I’m there to compete every day with all the quarterbacks,” Cornwell said. “But getting better each day is my priority, not worrying about the spot, the No. 2 spot, No. 3 or anything. I’m just here to get better as a quarterback because even if you get the job here, you’re going to have to beat someone out in the (NFL) draft or even in life. I’m just keeping my head down, working to be the best quarterback I can be and seeing where it takes me.”

*** Be sure to check out the other QB features in this series:

Jake Coker 'excited' about next season's QB battle

Alabama QB Alec Morris looks to 'keep making progress'

Cooper Bateman to 'stick it out' in Alabama QB battle