Attention this spring centered on Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, and which would become the starting quarterback this fall for Alabama.

But the spring game has typically drawn eyeballs in part for the debut of freshman quarterbacks, and the Tide had two of them play Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Louisiana’s Eli Holstein and Georgia’s Dylan Lonergan were placed on separate teams for A-Day, with Holstein splitting time with Jalen Milroe on the white team and Lonergan joining Ty Simpson on the crimson team.

During an afternoon of uneven quarterback play, the first drive from Lonergan was among the high points of the day. After three possessions of Simpson leading the crimson, Lonergan entered in the second quarter and immediately flashed some potential. He completed passes of 15, 11 and 27 yards with only one incompletion before finding running back Justice Haynes over the middle for a 6-yard touchdown.

Lonergan — who also joined Alabama’s baseball team this spring as a pitcher — drew praise from Nick Saban after the game.

“I think Dylan Lonergan has shown that he’s got a little more poise playing the position,” Saban said. “He’s accurate throwing the ball.”

The second half was less productive for Lonergan, who was the No. 13-rated quarterback and No. 159 recruit nationally in the 2023 class by 247 Sports’ composite. He played one drive in the third quarter that ended in a field goal, then three in the fourth quarter. Two were ended by third-down sacks and the final marked the end of the game. At one point, Lonergan sailed a pass over an open receiver.

Lonergan finished 8-of-14 for 79 yards passing, and ran once for one yard other than his two sacks.

“We wanted to get each one of those freshmen at least three series out there,” Saban said. “Dylan kind of moved the team a little better.”

Holstein’s debut in the second quarter began with a 35-yard completion to Ja’Corey Brooks, but was followed by a 10-yard sack on a play in which Holstein collided with running back Jase McClellan. On third down, Holstein one-hopped a pass to receiver Malik Benson.

The freshman’s third-quarter drive ended on its second play when Holstein was intercepted by Terrion Arnold on a pass that overshot its intended receiver. Holstein’s final chance came in the fourth quarter, when he completed a 17-yard pass to Brooks but took another sack that led to a punt.

“Eli’s made good progress, too,” Saban said. “I think he got in a hurry a few times today, which he was gonna do the right thing, but he also had a couple balls that were dropped that would have helped him.”

Holstein finished 3-of-6 for 61 yards, with no runs outside of his two sacks.

Alabama double-dipped at quarterback in its 2023 high school class for the first time since 2019, when it signed Paul Tyson and Taulia Tagovailoa. Two years earlier, it signed Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones. But it has not carried four scholarship quarterbacks since 2019, with only three rostered the past three seasons.

“I’m pleased with the progress that they’re making,” Saban said of Lonergan and Holstein. “I think they both have bright futures.”

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.