Alabama has a starting QB, in case you live under a rock and hadn't heard. Earlier in the week, Kalen DeBoer named redshirt junior Ty Simpson as the Crimson Tide's starter, the earliest he's called a genuine QB competition in his FBS head coaching career.
Things had been trending in Simpson's direction since spring practice. He had surged ahead of Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, establishing himself as a leader of the team and the unquestioned best option for DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb.
Part of winning the starting QB job comes with winning over the team as much as it does with performance in practice, particularly in a three-way battle of inexperienced guys with very little game experience.
Simpson has had little issue this offseason winning over the team. He's entering his fourth year in the program. He's a known commodity, a leader of this team. Another leader on this team, soon-to-be two-time permanent captain Deontae Lawson, spoke about Simpson being named the starter after practice on Wednesday.
“Ty really stayed down. That just means so much to us as a team, just to know a guy like that that just cares so much about this place, about his teammates, it just makes you feel good,” said Lawson. “Ty was already my guy, to be honest. Just seeing him coming to work every day, he’s getting way more comfortable in his leadership, and being able to manage the team, you know, win over the team, as you said. It’s just a pleasure to see. He just waited his turn, I just love to see that. He’s so resilient, and I can’t wait to see him shine.”
The team has completely rallied behind Ty Simpson
When Deontae Lawson speaks, you'd better listen. He said all of the above with a smile on his face. You can tell it means a lot to him, and thus the team, that Simpson won this job. He waited patiently for his opportunity; it's a story that DeBoer will use for the remainder of his coaching career. It's an example plenty of other coaches will piggyback off of moving forward to players who might be too quick to glance at the Transfer Portal when they don't get on the field right away.
Simpson always knew the wait was a possibility when he originally committed to Alabama. A coach's son, Simpson, has been biding his time, competing, working, and getting better. Now, his patience has paid off, and he will lead the Crimson Tide onto the field against Florida State on August 30 as the starting quarterback. A dream come true.
Nothing matters but the results, but the process has been excellent this offseason heading into year two of the DeBoer era. The team is bought into him and the rest of the coaching staff. It sounds like a tight-knit group, one that is laser-focused on returning Alabama to its rightful place atop the college football mountain.