As Nick Saban stated in his post-National Signing Day press conference, Alabama is likely to add a graduate transfer quarterback to its roster after not signing a signal caller out of high school in the 2018 class.

One name that’s emerged in the weeks to follow is East Carolina transfer Gardner Minshew. The Mississippi native visited Tuscaloosa for the day last Friday and currently holds an offer to join the program for the 2018-19 season and potentially beyond with a redshirt year available.

Speaking to sources with knowledge of the situation, Minshew very much enjoyed the visit to the Capstone and, for now, the plan is to join the program this summer.

While Minshew can’t practice with the team this spring, sources say he is looking forward to being around the facilities often in the next few months for meetings and to take in practices, all in an effort to acclimate himself to the team for his arrival this summer.

Auburn and Tennessee have been two others mentioned with Minshew. He hasn’t visited either to this point.

Keep in mind: there is not a letter of intent or binding agreement for Minshew to sign, so if another opportunity were to arise or another program began to show interest, Minshew would be free to explore those avenues if he decided to do that. Sources, however, say he is grateful for the opportunity that Alabama has presented, so the likelihood of that happening is slim.

Minshew was named ECU’s starter entering spring drills. The Brandon, Miss. native started five of 10 games during the 2017 season, leading East Carolina in completions (174), attempts (304), passing yards (2,140) and passing touchdowns (16) as a junior. He established ECU and AAC single-game records with a 52-of-68, 463-yard performance at Houston on Nov. 4.

After leading Northwest Mississippi Community College to the 2015 NJCAA national title, he transferred to ECU and played in seven games during the 2016 campaign as a sophomore.