Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Monday and Tuesday, August 11th and 12th.
Ty Simpson named Alabama's starting QB
With nearly three weeks to spare, Kalen DeBoer made the decision to name Ty Simpson as Alabama's starting quarterback, signaling an end to the Crimson Tide's QB competition. Things had been trending in this direction for quite some time, and the competition always felt more like a battle between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell to be Simpson's backup.
Simpson called being named the Tide's starter a "dream come true." This also becomes the earliest DeBoer has ever named a starting QB when there was an actual "competition and he didn't have an incumbent starter.
Jam Miller stated that fans will be "shocked" when they see what Simpson can do. OC Ryan Grubb and Miller both spoke highly of Simpson's ability to make plays on the run. He can stand in the pocket and make throws, but where he can be truly special is with his ability to escape the pocket and make throws on the run, or just take off on scrambles.
Simpson will step into the starting role of a team that is a ready-made National Championship contender. Alabama has everything it needs to win it all; it just needs steady play at the QB position.
Simpson has had an excellent camp and waited his turn for this shot. Now, he has earned the right to lead Alabama onto the field against Florida State in two and a half weeks.
Dylan Lonergan named the starting QB at Boston College
Ty Simpson is not the only QB from Alabama's 2023 QB room who will be a starting QB at a power-four team this fall. Eli Holstein will start for a second consecutive season at Pitt, and now Alabama trnasfer Dylan Lonergan will get his starting opportunity, as well.
Former Tide OC Bill O'Brien named Lonergan the starting QB at Boston College on Monday. Lonergan left Alabama in the winter Transfer Portal in search of an opportunity. O'Brien recruited Lonergan out of high school, and now they reunite in Chestnut Hill.
Alabama ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP Poll
Alabama was ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP poll, matching its ranking in the Coaches Poll. It's the lowest preseason ranking for the Crimson Tide since 2008.
AP voters are clearly taking a wait-and-see approach with Kalen DeBoer's Tide heading into his second year in Tuscaloosa. Alabama went 9-4 last season and finished No. 17 in the AP Poll, its lowest postseason ranking since 2007.
This Alabama team has a lot to prove. They seem eager to do so.
Could the kicking game haunt Alabama in 2025?
Greg McElroy attended Alabama's first scrimmage of fall camp last Saturday. He walked away impressed, particularly with the QB play, and believes Alabama is going to be really good in 2025.
His biggest area of concern, however, is an old, familiar Achilles' Heel that could haunt Alabama again after a nice, long reprieve. It's been six years since Alabama last had to really worry about the kicking game, but with a new kicker (and punter and snapper), that could come to an end in 2025.
Alabama's kicking woes were well-documented for years, but the arrival of Will Reichard in Tuscaloosa changed the fortunes of the program, turning a weakness into a strength. Even with Reichard in the NFL last year, Alabama replaced him with Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson in the Transfer Portal. Now, Conor Talty takes over, and while he was a highly-regarded recruit in high school, he has yet to attempt a collegiate field goal.
DeBoer will need Talty to be solid, so as to avoid the potential of special teams costing Alabama a chance at a National Championship.
Paul Finebaum thinks Alabama is severely underrated
On Tuesday, Paul Finebaum joined the Mac and Cube show and made the case that Alabama is severely underrated heading into the 2025 season. He disagrees with AP Poll voters and believes the Crimson Tide should rank ahead of the likes of Ohio State and Georgia.
Finebaum thinks Alabama is a legitimate National Championship contender, and has quickly changed his tune on DeBoer. Last year and into the early part of the offseason, Finebaum was pushing the hot seat agenda for the Tide's head coach. But his opinion has changed over the last couple of months, with Finebaum taking note of Alabama's tremendous offseason.
Finebaum has made a career out of divisive opinions. It's weird to agree with him for once.