Alabama football did the unexpected to end spring practice, and declared a leader in its quarterback battle. Ryan Grubb told reporters that Ty Simpson was currently in first place, ahead of Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
Speaking during a Friday appearance on The Next Round Live, head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about Mack, and the potential that the redshirt sophomore could enter the transfer portal. DeBoer said he felt good about Mack, who followed him to Alabama from Washington.
“ I’m not gonna speak for Austin, but I do have a really good relationship with him,” DeBoer said. “Have been with him now, this will be year three. And he knows he’s got some elite football ahead of him. And he’s really getting the most reps he’s ever had here this spring. Last year he was in the mix, but really you had more of Ty and Jalen and then even Dylan (Lonergan) was taking more reps than he was.
“It’s hard enough when you’ve got two, much less four, splitting that the way you want. He got one week back his freshman year at Washington where we shelved Michael a little bit, Penix, making sure he was physically as strong as he needed to be there in fall camp, so (Mack) got an uptick of reps there, but this is the most reps he’s ever had.”
Mack was the lone passer in the quarterback battle to have had new Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb as his primary recruiter out of high school. He played in one game last season for the Crimson Tide, throwing a touchdown against Mercer.
DeBoer said Mack understood that he was getting better, even with Simpson ahead of him on the depth chart.
“He sees the growth,” DeBoer said. “He sees the development. We got a lot of great hard workers on the football team, he’s near the top of that list, as far as just the work he puts in. So I’m excited for him. I know there’s a trust that has to exist between coach and player, I think that’s growing and existing with all three of the guys, because they all did start with a different starting point, as far as Austin coming with us, Keelon being recruited by us, and then of course Ty, the experience we had with him last year.”
The spring transfer portal window opened on Wednesday, and will continue through April 25. Alabama will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30, at Florida State.
