After the 2024 college football season, it was not clear who Alabama’s starting quarterback would be in 2025. Jalen Milroe had been that starting QB for two seasons, but he entered the 2025 NFL draft and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round. As a result, head coach Kalen DeBoer needed to determine his team’s next starter.
The team had three options heading into the offseason: Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Simpson and Mack have been on the team for a few years, whereas Russell was the No. 2-ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
At the SEC media days on Wednesday, DeBoer made an appearance for the Crimson Tide. At his press conference, he brought some clarity to the team’s starting quarterback position.
“You really got three guys that have taken all the snaps… Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, that’s really by age and years of experience is kind of where it starts. We did make it known at the end of the spring that if we played a game at that point… Ty Simpson would be the guy that would take the first snap to be our starter. Challenge all of them at that time that they have to continue to take the strides.”
“They’ve really worked hard to do that. Excited to see that progress two weeks from today. They have the tools. Ty throws a catchable ball, he’s smart, he’s been in college football now, going into year four. He’s seen the ups and downs. He’s got great relationships with the team. He’s a leader that way.”
.@AlabamaFTBL’s Kalen DeBoer gives an update on the Crimson Tide’s QB room heading into fall camp #SECMediaDays pic.twitter.com/G12Mc8mEN0
— 3 Man Front (@3ManFront) July 16, 2025
Ty Simpson Is Projected To Be Alabama’s Starter After Three Years as a Backup
Ty Simpson is a former five-star recruit but has taken the long road to being a starter for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was the No. 29-ranked player in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Despite that, he has spent three seasons as a backup at Alabama.
However, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer, it appears that Simpson is finally getting his chance to be the team’s starter. While DeBoer did not indicate that Simpson’s spot is 100% locked in, he is the favorite to win the job as training camp approaches. He completed 14 of 25 passing attempts for 167 yards last season.
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