Ty Simpson is a bit of an enigma in today's college football world. Not many players will stick around for multiple seasons without earning legitimate playing time. Most quarterbacks won't even entertain going to a school where they will have to sit and develop for more than a year. Not in the Transfer Portal era.
Simpson is not like most players.
The former 5-star recruit is entering his fourth season of college football. He's spent all of those seasons at Alabama and looks to finally get his opportunity to be the starter. He bided his time for three years when he would have easily transferred and started somewhere else.
But being the Alabama QB means something to Simpson. He never wavered from his commitment to the Crimson Tide despite losing out on the starting QB in both 2023 and 2024 to Jalen Milroe. His patience appears to be ready to pay off heading into the 2025 season.
Simpson is the leader in the clubhouse over Austin Mack and Keelon Russell to be the Tide's starter next season. OC Ryan Grubb said at the end of spring practice that if Alabama had a game coming up that Simpson would start. While Kalen DeBoer and Grubb haven't officially named a starter, Simpson is now the overwhelming favorite.
You can count Nick Saban as firmly in Simpson's camp, too.
Speaking to reporters before a charity golf tournament in Vestavia Hills on Tuesday, Saban gave his former QB his stamp of approval.
"He's a fine young man," said Saban. "I think his example is a true example of development. He matured and developed for years, and now he's going to get the opportunity, and I think his experiences are really going to help him be successful. We're rooting for him, that's for sure, and I have every confidence that he'll do a great job."
Saban recruited Simpson out of high school and landed him as part of Alabama's 2022 recruiting class. He looked to be the heir apparent to Bryce Young, but Milroe had other ideas.
Above-Average QB play is all that stands in the way of Alabama being a National Championship contender
Alabama has all the pieces to the puzzle to be the last team standing at the conclusion of the 2025 season. There's depth and talent at every position. How good the Crimson Tide is next season will all come down to QB play.
If Simpson - or one of the other two vying for the job - can be just above-average, not even great, then Alabama has a team good enough to win the National Championship.
Whether it's Simpson or Mack or Russell, they'll be aided by one of the best WR corps in the country. Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Isaiah Horton form a formidable trio. Behind them, there's plenty of depth and talent waiting in the wings, itching for an opportunity.
Defensively, Alabama should be a top five unit in the country.
Top to bottom, from the players to the coaches, this team has the ability to be the best in the country. It will all boil down to QB play to decide it.