The Thursday addition of Notre Dame transfer QB Tyler Buchner didn’t necessarily overshadow the NFL draft but that headline wasn’t lost in the shuffle in Kansas City.

Appearing on ESPN before the first-round, Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about the incoming passer.

Per usual, viewers could read between the lines of Saban’s comments on the topic.

“We wanted to give all the quarterbacks in our program an opportunity to win the job in spring practice,” Saban said. “And we felt like we wanted to add some competition in the room.”

He said something similar in the postgame interview room Saturday when the four scholarship quarterbacks completed less than half of its passes with four interceptions to one touchdown.

A few days later, Buchner entered the transfer portal and took a visit to Tuscaloosa. There he reunited with former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees who took the same job at Alabama a few months earlier.

“Tyler was certainly the guy at Notre Dame last year and got injured,” Saban continued. “Played in the bowl game and played very well so we felt like he would add a lot of competition and we think he has the right kind of character and attitude to be a positive influence on the team.”

Notre Dame also had its spring game Saturday when its quarterback competition gained clarity. Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman went 13 for 16 with 189 yards, two touchdowns and without an interception. That was good for a 24-0 win over the team quarterbacked by Buchner who was 8-for-18 passing with 44 yards and an interception.

In two seasons, Buchner completed 67 of 118 throws (56.8%) with six touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also averaged 6.3 yards per run on 82 attempts. A shoulder injury sidelined him after season-opening losses to Ohio State and Marshall to open last season before accounting for five touchdowns in a bowl win over South Carolina.

Alabama returns Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson who were joined by true freshmen Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan this spring in the race to replace Bryce Young.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.