Kalen DeBoer details why Ty Simpson could be Alabama Crimson Tide’s next starting QB
Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer will not name the Crimson Tide’s next starter until he is completely confident in both his football and leadership skills. Even so, he is slowly seeing potential in Ty Simpson, the most experienced in the Alabama QB battle.
DeBoer believes that experience should make a good case for his starting role.
“There’s always gonna be balls that every guy wants back, but I think the ability to learn from your mistakes, learn from other people’s mistakes, be able to comprehend, not be overwhelmed, I think that he’s just had more time. But they’re all doing a lot of really good things together as a group,” DeBoer stated about Simpson in his post-spring press conference.
“Ty continues to, I think, trend upward.”
Furthermore, Simpson is seemingly on a roll against his competitors, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Reason is both Mack and Russell’s one massive disadvantage that has turned into a merit for Simpson: his familiarity with the system in Tuscaloosa.
Mack’s case might still have an argument of being familiar with DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system, but Russell is still in the process of familiarizing himself with everything.
Add the factor of him being a freshman, and the chances of him becoming the starter drop significantly, at least for this season.
“They’re all at different spots because Keelon’s learning the system. The other two know it better, for sure. And Ty has been around and just has done a nice job. I think the trending upward is a big piece of it. Ty is an accurate thrower,” DeBoer added.
2025 is also the season after which Simpson becomes eligible to declare for the NFL draft. Mack, on the other hand, could stretch his eligibility till 2027.
This further tips the scale towards DeBoer naming Simpson as Tide’s next starter, along with the qualities he would bring as Jalen Milroe’s replacement, of course.
That said, DeBoer still has a long way until announcing the starter. Don’t be surprised if it comes just moments before their season opener against Florida State on Aug. 30.
