Being a mentor isn't just about being first or taking the lead; it's about watching, guiding, and protecting those who come after you. It's about offering advice and sharing lessons learned from your own mistakes, while quietly celebrating their growth. That's the space former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson now finds himself when watching Austin Mack and Keelon Russell battle this offseason to be the Crimson Tide's next starting quarterback.
Fresh off his Pro Day and inching closer to the next level, Simpson isn't just focused on his own journey — he's still invested in the QB room he helped shape. And when it comes to advice, his message to Mack and Russell doesn't come as a competitor anymore, but about something more meaningful: a big brother reminding them both to stay grounded, trust the process, and embrace the moment.
This sentiment was evident when Simpson spoke to reporters about the competition on Wednesday.
Ty Simpson's on his message to Austin Mack & Keelon Russell while in the midst of Alabama's quarterback battle
“Just be yourself and enjoy it,” Simpson said. “It was really cool coming back, after Pro Day, it was guys that I saw. They mean so much to me because they helped me get to where I’m at. It’s one of my favorite quarterback rooms. Austin and Keelon, seeing them grow from the season last year, to being in practice and being in meetings with them this year, it was just something that put a smile on my face because I feel like a big brother as well. Whoever plays is going to be so good that they’re going to lead the team the right way. So, be yourself, enjoy it, and be the best teammate that you can be. Everybody cares about being a good player, but everybody is going to remember you being a great teammate.”
With Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb already labeling their battle as "pretty even" up to this point in spring practices, Simpson's words to Mack and Russell carry weight beyond the X's and O's. It's easy to get caught up in who's ahead or behind, but the measure is how either passer is capable of lifting the players around them. Simpson knows that kind of leadership isn't something you can fake because it's earned through consistency, trust, and selflessness.
For Mack and Russell, that message hits hard. Both are individually talented athletes with the tools to succeed, but Simpson's mentorship reminds them that their legacy in Tuscaloosa will be measured by the culture they build in the QB room as much as the amount of yards or touchdowns they rack up. Grubb echoed this same sentiment, noting this spring that Alabama's quarterback room has grown not just in skill, but in character, because of previous leaders like Simpson.
At the end of the day, those tangibles don't guarantee ultimate success each Saturday come fall as Mack and Russell continue to compete, but learning from a big brother who's already walked the path they're walking should be viewed by Crimson Tide fans as a hand up for both. Simpson's guidance ensures that, win or lose the starting job, each quarterback is set up to lead with confidence and integrity. And ultimately, that mentorship could be the difference that shapes not just who takes the first official snaps this September, but how much Alabama's offense truly thrives in 2026.