Alabama football OC Ryan Grubb gives surprisingly candid update on Crimson Tide QB battle
Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb delivered a pretty strong — and somewhat surprising — statement Monday in his assessment of where all three quarterbacks are in the battle to win the job as the Crimson Tide’s starter.
After Alabama wrapped up spring practice with a watered-down A-Day event Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Grubb spoke to reporters Monday and gave the most substantial update on the race between redshirt junior Ty Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack, and 5-star freshman Keelon Russell in the battle to succeed Jalen Milroe as starter.
Grubb told reporters:
“I know everybody wants to know about that position and where things are at, and I would say this: at the end of the day, if we’re playing a football game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would start. And he earned that. I know that’s the line everybody is looking for, but that is what he earned.”
Grubb’s comments come after coach Kalen DeBoer told Tide 100.9 FM in Tuscaloosa last week that the quarterback battle would continue past spring practice and into fall camp in August.
“For us, people want to know a decision and things like that,” DeBoer told host Ryan Fowler on Thursday. “You don’t feel like they’re to a point where there is separation, where there’s a ceiling that they’ve hit.
“I think it would be pretty foolish for us to make a decision right now,” DeBoer continued. “We have plenty of time still to work through it and let these guys continue to work through the summer.”
Maybe, maybe not. The spring transfer portal window opens Wednesday. DeBoer said Monday that he hopes Alabama can keep all three quarterbacks.
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