When Jalen Milroe was off to the NFL Draft, he left a large gaping hole in Alabama’s team. Now, with a fresh regime under head coach Kalen DeBoer, all eyes in Tuscaloosa are on one burning question. Who can lead the Alabama offense this fall like Milroe did? While it is true that the Crimson Tide’s quarterback room is packed, nothing about the starting QB is set in stone just yet. But the Crimson Tide fandom got a little peek into the QB drama this week.
In a press conference following spring practice, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb stirred the pot quite a bit. He suggested that redshirt junior Ty Simpson had the edge over redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and five-star freshman Keelon Russell. Undoubtedly, that update had the fandom speculating. But hold up, let’s not forget that nothing is final until DeBoer says it is.
Kalen DeBoer Says Alabama’s Quarterback Competition Is Still Wide Open
Just when the world thought the quarterback riddle was solved, DeBoer added a layer of mystery. In a recent interview, the new Crimson Tide head coach reminded everyone that nothing is immutable.
“Right, it doesn’t [end],” DeBoer said when asked about the ongoing competition. “The competition always continues. That’s this year, that’s any year.” Evidently, under the new regime, no one is safe, and no one is starting until they earn it through and through. Sure, Simpson might be the guy right now, but that doesn’t mean he’s walking into the season opener in Tallahassee.
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As DeBoer himself puts it, “I think the biggest thing for them, the message is that they all got to keep getting better. For us to accomplish what we want to do as a team — and of course, being quarterback-driven in many ways and personnel-driven too — but the quarterback position needs to keep progressing.” There’s the tea folks! The summer grind is only just in its infancy. And no doubt, this is not new territory for Simpson.
Simpson played backup to Milroe last year, but not for lack of skill. He’s got the arm, mobility, and patience. In the six games he saw action in last season, he had 167 passing yards and a rushing touchdown, completing over half his attempts. It might not be flashy, but it simply cannot be ignored.
What exactly gives Ty Simpson the early nod from DeBoer?
Well, Simpson has Accuracy, composure, and a clean sheet. He was the only QB in the spring A-Day game not to throw an interception. In fact, on Monday, in the press conference following Grubb, DeBoer even said, “Ty’s an accurate thrower… not overwhelmed,” DeBoer said. But again, he followed that with a reminder: “Ty trending upward is a big piece of it.” A piece, not the whole puzzle.
Grubb might’ve spilled the early tea, but both he and DeBoer were careful not to call it a case closed. With Mack, a former Washington standout, waiting in the wings, andRussell, the top-ranked quarterback of his class, also on the roster. This is going to be an interesting battle for QB1.
The spring is over, but the real race begins now. The quarterbacks will return to the field for summer workouts at the end of May. The countdown to August 30 against Florida State has officially started. That’s over 100 days for someone to step up and own the job. And if history is testimony, Alabama doesn’t rush its quarterback decisions.
Last year, Alabama didn’t name its starter until six days before the opener. DeBoer’s quarterback is still in the works. So for now? Simpson might have the lead, but Mack and Russell aren’t far behind.
KEEP READING: Throwback: The Moment Alabama Football QB Ty Simpson Told Kalen DeBoer Why He Never Transferred
As DeBoer puts it, “So for the summer, full camp, they all got to keep getting better, and that’s their mindset. They’re great kids, and they understand that. They have high goals for themselves individually and also our whole team.”
So, let the QB battle rage on.
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