Kalen DeBoer broke personal record in naming Ty Simpson Alabama’s starting QB

Alabama football learned the news Monday. Ty Simpson had been named the starting quarterback.

The season opener sits more than two weeks away, so Kalen DeBoer making that decision when he did set a bit of a personal record for his Power Four quarterback decisions.

Naming Simpson the starter 19 days before the season begins is by far the earliest DeBoer has named a starting quarterback as a head coach at this level. The other two: Michael Penix Jr. 11 days before the opener at Washington and Jake Haener four days before the opener at Fresno State.

DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb named Penix the starter on Aug. 23, 2022. Washington opened the season against Kent State on Sept. 3, 2022.

Before that, Haener was named the starter Oct. 20, 2020 during the COVID-19 season. The Bulldogs opened the season against Hawaii on Oct. 24, 2020.

Jalen Milroe was the returning starter when DeBoer rpel

If Simpson can follow in Penix and Haener’s footsteps, he will be in good company. Both went on to become NFL draft picks. The Atlanta Falcons selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints picked Haener in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Both remain in the NFL.