The Alabama Football team got massive news as Tuscaloosa News reported that quarterback Ty Simpson will return for the 2024 season. The news was unexpected as it seemed that Simpson would most likely leave and pursue a starting role elsewhere as he's talented enough to do so. Simpson returning means that the Alabama Football team will have an experienced backup with plenty of talent behind Jalen Milroe.
Simpson has seen limited playing time for the Alabama Football team passing for 179 yards this season on 20 attempts while rushing for 86 yards and two touchdowns. The return of Simpson is massive, if he were to leave the backup quarterback for 2024 would have likely been Julian Sayin who's talented but, won't have much experience in Tommy Rees' system.
This is also massive news for the Alabama Football team in terms of recruiting transfers. The Alabama Football team will have plenty of holes to focus on filling in the portal with needs at cornerback, edge rusher, center, and wide receivers as players may follow coach Holmon Wiggins to Texas A&M. Simpson returning means that Nick Saban and the Alabama Football team won't need to pursue an experienced quarterback to back up Jalen Milroe in the transfer portal.
The quarterback depth would've been a bigger issue with freshman quarterback Eli Holstein entering the transfer portal. Holstein was a four-star recruit in this past recruiting class and he didn't see any playing time this season as he was behind Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, and Ty Simpson. Losing Buchner, Simpson, and Holstein in one off-season would have been a brutal blow to the depth at quarterback.
This will also most likely have a massive ripple effect in the recruiting world as some of the 2025 classes' top quarterbacks are set to announce their commitments in the near future.
The first is the Nation's top recruit Bryce Underwood a Quarterback in the class of 2025 is set to announce his commitment on January 6th. Underwood is between Michigan, Alabama, and LSU with LSU the front-runner as things currently appear. Underwood took his last visit to Alabama in December the last visit he will take before committing. He had the following to say about the Alabama Football Program:
"They produce great quarterbacks definitely. They are known for putting first-rounders out. That is one of my main goals, for sure. How stuff is run there. It's very professional, very strictly business and they're going to get you where you want to go."Bryce Underwood
The other name to watch in the 2025 recruiting class is the second-ranked quarterback and the ninth-ranked prospect overall George Macintyre. The Tennessee native is getting ready to announce his commitment and is down to LSU, Tennessee, and Alabama. Underwood committing to LSU would likely put Macintyre down to Alabama and Tennessee. Macintyre spoke on Alabama with 24/7 sports saying the following:
"I love the tradition, I love the logo. That was kind of the initial thoughts. After getting on campus and visiting multiple times I can see myself fitting into the culture there. They're all about winning and I wouldn't want to join a team where that's not their main goal. I really like Tommy Rees. He's been on me hard since he first got the job and I really appreciate him and all his effort in my recruitment."George Macintyre
The return of Simpson may push Underwood and Macintyre to the Alabama Football team's SEC rivals. The depth chart when Underwood and Macintyre arrive at Tuscaloosa will likely have Ty Simpson and Julian Sayin in front of them. In an era where players look to start as early as possible to capitalize on their potential earnings in NIL a three-man competition may not be their desired landing place.
Alabama Football: Transfer Chaos to create needs in unexpected spots
While Ty Simpson staying prevented a need at quarterback behind Jalen Milroe unexpected departures have created needs the Alabama Football program didn't expect. The departure of Seth McLaughlin created a need at the center which became even bigger when the next man up in Terrance Ferguson followed him into the transfer portal. As the Alabama Football team awaits decisions from cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, they got unexpected transfer news at the position. Cornerback Earl Little II announced his plans to transfer meaning the Alabama football team won't have him as an option to start opposite of Domani Jackson.
This spring Nick Saban and the Alabama Football program are going to have to hit the spring window in the transfer portal. We saw Nick Saban address this need by landing Tyler Buchner in that window last season and they'll need to do it again after getting a better look at this year's freshman class.