Joel Allen, former head coach at The Bishop’s (Calif.) School, always felt confident knowing his quarterback could double as a middle linebacker if needed. Allen would joke that Tyler Buchner was an old-school football player who performed better when the pads were on.

Yet, while Buchner recovered from a torn ACL the year prior, he wore a brace on his left knee for the first two weeks of his junior season. Buchner didn’t feel like his normal self. So, before the Knights’ game on Sept. 7, 2019, Buchner went to his coaches and told him he’d be taking his brace off.

The result was Buchner totaling 760 all-purpose yards (465 passing and 296 rushing), coming one yard short of tying the California high school single-game record. Later that week, Bishop’s coaching staff met and Allen asked his staff a question: How do we stay out of the way to let this kid lead us to success?

Throughout his football career, Buchner’s mix of mental and physical traits has left sparkling impressions on the coaches around him. Danny Mitchell, then-Bishop’s offensive coordinator, realized Buchner’s potential when Buchner nearly matched Mitchell’s own 6-foot frame as a middle schooler. Notre Dame’s then-quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees noticed as the two “cerebral” thinkers bonded throughout Buchner’s initial recruitment. The wider college football world saw it for the first time during last December’s Gator Bowl when Buchner scored five touchdowns.

For Allen and Buchner’s old coaches at Bishop’s, both of his stellar performances in 2018 and last winter didn’t surprise them. It’s the same focus and passion — a healthy chip on the shoulder as his high school coach put it — that makes him an intriguing contender in Alabama football’s starting quarterback race.

“You’re gonna get someone with none of that stereotype stuff matters to him,” Mitchell said. “He’s just a great person. … That’s why he wins. That’s why he’s a winner.”

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Buchner introduced himself to Crimson Tide fans with a tweet on Thursday when he announced his transfer from Notre Dame. Speaking ahead of the opening night of the NFL Draft, Nick Saban lauded Buchner for “the right kind of character and attitude to be a positive influence.”

Coaches described Buchner as laid back and funny Southern California teen. He didn’t have the persona of a star quarterback. He built a close relationship with Mitchell, with some even jokingly referring to them as brothers because they looked so similar. Buchner eventually attended Mitchell, who’s now a senior offensive analyst at UAB, and his wife’s wedding.

Buchner comes from a family of athletes, his dad played fullback at Colgate and his mom rode equestrian at Yale. Each of his three sisters plays volleyball or soccer. From a talent standpoint, Buchner fits in well with the strong-armed and mobile contenders Ty Simpson and Jalen Milroe. Buchner’s ability to read a defense and make off-platform passes made him a highly-coveted four-star prospect.

But when asked where Buchner can grow as a player, his coaches had a consensus there, too.

Buchner’s style can create opportunities on the run and lead to throws some passers aren’t physically capable of. Though the same situations can lead to mental errors. Through two major injuries and a pandemic, Buchner has started 17 games in the last five years. Some of Buchner’s eight career interceptions across 67 attempts appear to come from a lack of experience.

“You can see the negatives at what happened at Notre Dame,” Mitchell said, “for example, his athleticism at times …. you have throws that some guys won’t ever be able to attempt. Is that the right decision?”

Four snaps into his first year as a starter, Buchner ended his season in “Tyler Buchner-fashion.” Facing a quick three-and-out, Buchner was tasked with punting the ball away but saw a crease and took off for the first down on a fake. About 40 yards later, when Buchner tried to make the punt returner miss, he tried to change direction and tore his left ACL.

RELATED: Former Alabama WR sounds off about Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner

Paul Finebaum, others react to Notre Dame’s Tyler Buchner transferring to Alabama

Bishop’s is a private school with about 30 players rostered. The team still won a California Interscholastic Federation championship with its center as a second-string quarterback, partially due to Buchner offering his perspective from the coach’s press box above the stands. He talked with Mitchell through a headset and even called a few touchdown plays.

Two years later, Buchner transferred to Helix High, a charger school with a larger football program, but graduated before playing a down after the school pushed its season due to COVID-19 cancellations. Regardless, Helix head coach Robbie Owens called Buchner’s time on campus a “joy” in 2020, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

After mostly subbing in as a running quarterback for Jack Coan with the Fighting Irish in 2021, Buchner won Notre Dame’s camp battle last fall and had two games, losing a road battle to Ohio State and a home upset against Marshall. Buchner missed the next months after needing surgery for a Grade-5 AC joint sprain and checked in with his former defensive coordinator and Notre Dame alum Shane Welton during his recovery.

“‘Look, it’s the same thing, dude. If anyone can do it, it’s you. You’ve been through this. You’ve come out better on the other end. You’re gonna be fine,’” Welton recalled telling Buchner. “I think he’s getting ready to explode.”

The potential has always been there. According to Welton, a staffer from Southern California stopped by a practice during Buchner’s junior year, watched Buchner deliver one perfectly-placed 10-yard out from the far hash mark and turned around to leave. Like many others, he had seen enough to believe in Buchner.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].