Alabama fans certainly hoped that Ty Simpson would bring elevated play to the QB position this year. Jalen Milroe could certainly produce some "wow" moments, but would also have a plethora of head-scratching turnovers. Milroe's talent was undeniable; his consistency was a big problem, however.
What Simpson has done, however, is beyond anything even the most ardent believers in his ability thought possible. He's not just been an improvement over Milroe; he's been arguably the best quarterback in the entire country.
And it's not just Alabama fans who believe that. The college football media is catching on as well, and Simpson is now one of the Heisman Trophy favorites. He's also generating a ton of NFL Draft buzz with just seven starts under his belt.
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay has consistently raved about Simpson this year. In the aftermath of another strong performance by the redshirt junior signal-caller, McShay had the highest praise yet for the Alabama QB.
"Ty Simpson is an absolute anomaly," McShay said. "It's borderline not possible, the level in which he's playing the quarterback position. He is the best quarterback in college football right now, and it's not close. It's week in and week out. It's controlling the line of scrimmage. It's pre-snap reads. It's checking. It's kills. It's post-snap, identifying the changes and the disguises in coverage. It's knowing where the pressures are coming from. It's the poise in the pocket, negotiating safeties with his eyes, maneuvering inside the pocket, the subtleties of the position. There's no way in six starts in college football you can play the quarterback position at this level. It doesn't happen. So we're watching something that is so special, man."
Todd McShay is blown away by Ty Simpson's elite play for Alabama
The scariest thing about Simpson is that he's only made seven starts. He's just going to keep getting better the more and more he gets comfortable. He already plays the position like a wily veteran; imagine what he'll look like when he actually is a veteran.
Alabama has a ton of talent at WR, and Simpson continues to develop a rapport with his receivers. If the Crimson Tide can get the running game consistently going over the second half of the regular season, the offense is going to be increasingly difficult to stop.
Something clicked for Simpson after the Florida State game. His performance in Tallahassee raised the question of whether or not he was the best QB on Alabama's roster. His performance since that game has raised the question of whether he's the best QB in the country.
According to McShay, he certainly is, and no one else is even close.