It’s been a while since anybody with Alabama football declared an early leader in a quarterback battle. Nick Saban played it close to the vest, instead choosing to talk about his grandmother’s cake-baking ability, and Kalen DeBoer didn’t face a competition in his first season.
Then, on Monday, UA offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb declared Ty Simpson the clubhouse leader during a spring practice wrap-up press conference. Shortly thereafter, DeBoer was asked what had stood out about the redshirt junior so far.
It’s been a while since anybody with Alabama football declared an early leader in a quarterback battle. Nick Saban played it close to the vest, instead choosing to talk about his grandmother’s cake-baking ability, and Kalen DeBoer didn’t face a competition in his first season.
Then, on Monday, UA offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb declared Ty Simpson the clubhouse leader during a spring practice wrap-up press conference. Shortly thereafter, DeBoer was asked what had stood out about the redshirt junior so far.
DeBoer pointed at Simpson’s experience at Alabama.
“Ty has been around and just has done a nice job,” DeBoer said.” I think the trending upward is a big piece of it. Ty is an accurate thrower. There’s always gonna be balls that every guy wants back, but I think the ability to learn from your mistakes, learn from other people’s mistakes, be able to comprehend, not be overwhelmed, I think that he’s just had more time.”
Simpson served as Alabama’s primary backup for the past two seasons, behind Jalen Milroe. He joined the Crimson Tide in the 2022 recruiting class.
The Tennessee native is battling redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell for the job this offseason. DeBoer emphasized that the competition isn’t over.
“We’re not where we need to be at the quarterback position yet,” DeBoer said.”And so I feel like that exists within our team, to have that level be accomplished, but this is part of the process. I shared with our team, we’re not where we need to be as a team. I hope we don’t ever think that. It’s never been that case everywhere I’ve been, any year I’ve been a part of to where you finish spring ball in April and you’re like, ‘OK, we’re good to go.’ People ask, ‘Are you ready for the season?’ No, I’m not. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and August, and I think that’s the case, I think, with the quarterback position.”
Simpson took the majority of first-team reps during Alabama’s A-Day open practice on Saturday. He was the lone passer to not throw an interception, with Mack tossing two picks and Russell one.
Grubb compared the play of the two veterans directly after telling reporters that Simpson would get the start “If we’re playing a football game tomorrow.”
“(Simpson) earned that, okay?” Grubb said. “And I know that’s the line everybody’s looking for, but that is what he earned. Austin Mack made huge strides, also available reps were the same, you know, and he did a really good job. He came out and developed. Just with some of the nuances and take care of the football and things like that, but Ty showed out a little bit better.”
DeBoer said Monday that he was hopeful none of the three quarterbacks would leave via the transfer portal, which opens Wednesday. He and Grubb both said the battle isn’t done yet.
“We’re not gonna be satisfied with the quarterback room until it’s how it’s supposed to be,” Grubb said. “And it wasn’t perfect this spring, but I thought we were trending the right way the entire time. And so the competitive spirit and the acknowledgement of each other as a competitor in that room was very mature, honestly, you know? And it could have been very different than that. So I’m blessed to work with those guys every day. I’m fired up. We got three really, really good quarterbacks.”
