The Alabama Crimson Tide will kick off their season on August 30, when they head down to Tallahassee to take on Florida State. However, if there was a game to be played this weekend, head coach Kalen DeBoer apparently already knows who he would start at QB.
Alabama has quite the quarterback competition in Tuscaloosa between the veteran Ty Simpson and two of their young up-and-comers, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Despite the promise that Mack and Russell show, it should surprise nobody that DeBoer will stick with the veteran signal-caller as of now.
Kalen DeBoer Says Ty Simpson Would Start for Alabama If Season Began Today
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Paul Finebaum Show,” Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer revealed his thoughts on the QB battle in Tuscaloosa. He decided to give the veteran Ty Simpson the early edge in the Crimson Tide’s QB competition, but says the battle is far from over.
Kalen DeBoer to @finebaum on Alabama QBs: “If you had to play right now, you’d go with the veteran in Ty. He did a nice job this spring, as did the others. We just need to keep that competition going. They know that. That’s their expectation, because they know that where they’re…
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 14, 2025
“If you had to play right now, go with the veteran in Ty [Simpson],” DeBoer said. “Did a nice job this spring. As for the others, we just need to keep the competition going. They know that that’s their expectation because they know where they’re at right now isn’t good enough for where we need to be to have the success we want to have as a football team.”
Luckily for Mack and Russell, the offseason still has a complete summer program before Alabama surely has to pick their permanent signal-caller for the 2025 season.
Summer workouts are primed to begin in Tuscaloosa before getting to fall camp. DeBoer admits that the competition needs to continue, and won’t shut the door on Mack or Russell taking the job into their own hands.
Simpson was the primary backup to Jalen Milroe last season, who is now joining the Seattle Seahawks following the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite backing up Milroe, Simpson never saw the field for a real competitive snap. All six of his appearances came in “mop-up duty” with the game over, only attempting 25 passes for 167 yards.
Even so, DeBoer still labels him a veteran within the program. He’s been with Alabama for four years now after being a five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. However, the lack of experience we see from Mack and Russell also plays a big role.
The latter is brand new to the college football world as a true freshman, while Mack finally has some stability for the first time in his career.
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“We have the three guys and they’re all, really, at different spots in their careers,” DeBoer said. “Ty, having been in the program for a couple of years. And then, Austin, really, getting to take his first meaningful reps in practice this spring. And Keelon is joining as an early enrollee.”
Alabama will play 10 power conference opponents this season. A normal eight-game SEC schedule, plus Florida State and Wisconsin, before getting conference play underway.
Once games are underway, DeBoer will not have much time to sort out the quarterback situation. So, just over three months away from kickoff, it seems like DeBoer will rely on the guy with more experience than the other two options.
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