The hype for Alabama football in 2025 might reach a new stratosphere after what former Crimson Tide QB Greg McElroy said on the Mac and Cube radio show Monday morning.
McElroy was in Tuscaloosa on Saturday to watch Alabama's first scrimmage of fall camp, and he walked away incredibly impressed by Ty Simpson and the rest of the QB room for Kalen DeBoer's team.
"I liked what I saw from the quarterbacks this weekend," McElroy said. "I didn't expect them to look as good as they did. I was real optimistic with what I saw."
McElroy complimented all three quarterbacks in the competition, but specifically singled out Simpson. He said the rising redshirt junior only made one bad decision that he observed the entire scrimmage, looking entirely in command of the offense. He also stated that Simpson made the best play of the scrimmage, too.
"I was very impressed," McElroy said about Simpson. "I think he should feel great about where he is at."
Our guy @GregMcElroy had his boots on the ground @AlabamaFTBL scrimmage over the weekend!! High praises coming out of the QB room👀👀 @WJOX945 pic.twitter.com/nOaMzOh1lR
— McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning (@macandcube) August 11, 2025
Of course, non-Alabama fans will take McElroy's comments with a grain of salt. He is an alumnus of the University after all, and was the starting QB of the Tide's first National Championship team under Nick Saban. But you know who is actually surprised to see McElroy gushing over the Crimson Tide? Alabama fans.
Most Tide fans have thought for years that McElroy was overly critical of Alabama to avoid appearing biased toward his alma mater. So if McElroy is being this complimentary of the QB situation? It must be really good news.
If what McElroy saw continues when the season starts, Alabama is the best team in the country
Call me a homer if you want (it's true), but the only real question mark I had for this team was if the QB play was going to be good enough. If Kalen DeBoer has truly checked that box - and Ty Simpson is at the level he appeared to be to McElroy - then this Alabama team is not only a National Championship contender, they become the National Championship favorite in my mind.
DeBoer was complimentary of all three quarterbacks following Saturday's scrimmage, too. He spoke highly of the decision-making and stated that there were no interceptions thrown, which is doubly impressive when you consider how talented the Crimson Tide is in the defensive backfield.
Ryan Grubb has been similarly complimentary of Alabama's QB room during fall camp. He recently stated he was "fired up" by the progress the room has made and where they are just a few weeks shy of the season opener.
Obviously, a scrimmage in early August is a lot different than what Simpson and the other quarterbacks will be staring down at the end of the month in Doak Campbell against Florida State, but McElroy's comments - and those of DeBoer/Grubb - are incredibly encouraging for Alabama fans.