Sporting News reported that Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer did not give Ty Simpson the highest of compliments. Andrew Hughes wrote, "Instead of claiming Simpson could’ve gone to any other school, he stopped short and claimed he could’ve gone to 'a lot of' other schools."
Hughes is a professional. I admire his work, which includes Fly War Eagle and Glory Colorado. I also admit to stirring up more sizzle about Auburn than the entire Fly War Eagle staff does about the Alabama Crimson Tide. But I must disagree with Hughes in this case.
In a recent radio interview, talking about Ty Simpson, Kalen DeBoer said, "He really could have gone to not any other, but a lot of programs in the country that would have been looking for a quarterback and had an opportunity a year ago already. He decided to stay, and has done a great job of leading us so far this offseason." DeBoer added that Simpson "has all the tools to go out there and get the job done. He's done a nice job of improving and looking forward to this opportunity that he's waited a long time for."
Hughes correctly points out that DeBoer did not say that Simpson could have transferred to "any other school." He said "a lot' rather than "any other." DeBoer's statement is 100% correct. As Hughes points out, in the offensive systems of some programs, Simpson would not be the best fit. More importantly, from Texas with Arch Manning, there are probably two or three dozen programs that value their 2025 starting quarterback more highly than Ty Simpson. That is not a slam on Simpson's talent. It is mostly a response to his lack of game experience.
Alabama Football Coach Being Refreshingly Honest
Kalen DeBoer was being honest. That does not happen enough in college sports. Had he said that Simpson could have transferred to 'any school,' there would be a punditry explosion that DeBoer made an outrageous claim.
For the sake of DeBoer, Simpson, Andrew Hughes and myself, the college football season cannot get here soon enough. When it does, more focus will shift to what 'is', rather than what 'isn't'.