If you ignored what has been said and done in Tuscaloosa over the offseason, and instead focused solely on the media narrative, you would believe Alabama has a significant problem at QB heading into the 2025 season.
Confidence in Ty Simpson seems to only exist among the Alabama fan base, coaching staff, and roster. Fortunately for Simpson, those are the only votes of confidence he needs.
Several times this offseason the narrative has been pushed that Alabama should look to the Transfer Portal for a QB to bridge the gap between Jalen Milroe and 5-star freshman phenom Keelon Russell. Faith in Simpson around the country is minimal.
Over the weekend, On3's Billy Embody levied a tampering claim against Alabama, stating the Crimson Tide tried to lure SMU starting QB Kevin Jennings into the Transfer Portal and to Tuscaloosa.
It's the first report connecting the Crimson Tide to Jennings, and an odd time to bring it up. Embody seemingly took exception to On3 listing Simpson - and not Jennings, who will also attend - as a notable QB at the Manning Passing Academy later this month.
Embody's claim makes about as much sense as Alabama's reported interest in Carson Beck. If the Crimson Tide was interested in a portal QB, they would have aggressively pursued one. They never did.
Embody is a credible reporter. I wouldn't dare to question that. I'm sure he was told by a trusted source that Alabama was interested in Jennings. That doesn't mean they were.
Coaches and people associated with programs love to use Alabama to push a narrative. I can't even count how many times I've seen a kid commit to a school and it be said that said school "beat Alabama" to land the commitment. Problem is, many times, it's the first time Alabama had even been connected to the recruit.
If you want people to believe you have one of the best QBs in the nation - or to even prop up a QB who struggled mightily in last season's College Football Playoff - leaking that Alabama had interest in him makes a lot of sense.
It's also fair to question how much bad blood remains on the SMU side toward Alabama after the Crimson Tide flipped long-time Mustangs commit Keelon Russell in last year's recruiting cycle. Russell blew up from there and became the No. 2 ranked prospect in the 2025 class.
The Alabama coaching staff has had faith in Ty Simpson the whole time
Year two is an important one for Kalen DeBoer coming off a disappointing 9-4 debut season in Tuscaloosa. It speaks to Simpson's quality that DeBoer did NOT heavily pursue a portal QB. Because if DeBoer wasn't comfortable with his QB room, with everything that is on the line this season for him, then you can bet he would have been aggressive.
There were plenty of talented quarterbacks out there in the winter portal window. Alabama was never credibly linked to any.
Instead, the coaching staff has done nothing but publicly back the rising redshirt junior. All reports indicate that Simpson had a tremendous spring.
It's fair for fans and media members to have some anxiety about Simpson as the presumed starter at QB for Alabama. He's only thrown 50 career passes through three seasons with the Crimson Tide. He's proven more as a runner than he has a passer at this point in his career.
But Simpson was a highly recruited and talented QB coming out of high school. He was a consensus 5-star prospect, and even with a vote of confidence from his offensive coordinator coming out of spring, he hasn't taken anything for granted.
Alabama doesn't need Simpson to be a superstar in 2025 for the team to reach its goals of getting into the College Football Playoff and competing for a National Championship. If he can be better than average - and take care of the football - then this team can go far. It is one of the most talented teams in the country on paper.
Simpson won't find himself on any preseason watchlists. He is flying under the radar heading into the season. That's just fine for Simpson, this coaching staff, and this team. He has the buy-in from the folks that matter, regardless of what those who don't have to say about it.