Credible sources have refuted the rash of claims that Alabama Football was interested in former Georgia QB, Carson Beck. In contrast, some fans believe the Crimson Tide needs a fourth quarterback for the 2025 season and maybe that fourth QB should be a transfer and immediate starter. That perspective is debatable. Not worthy of debate is that plenty of, already in Tuscaloosa, quarterback talent will compete to become the Tide's new signal-caller.
There will be a competition to take Alabama Football's first offensive snap in Doak Campbell Stadium next August. The inside track belongs to Ty Simpson, who has patiently waited his turn through three seasons in Tuscaloosa. The redshirt junior will not be handed the job. The Alabama staff is very high on Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell is one of the most-heralded quarterbacks Alabama has added in recent years.
Any of the three could win the starting job, but Simpson has clear advantages. Some Alabama Crimson Tide fans appear to have forgotten that Simpson was a highly rated 5-star in the 2022 class. In the 247Sports Composite Rankings for the 2022 class, Simpson was the third-ranked quarterback, behind Cade Klubnik and Conner Weigman, and the No. 26 player overall. Ranked below Simpson were next season's starter for Georgia, Gunner Stockton, and Penn State's starter for the past two seasons, Drew Allar. In February 2021, the Clemson site Rubbing the Rock called Simpson, and not Klubnick, the Tigers' "top QB target" to sign in the 2022 class.
It is well known that Kalen DeBoer and Nick Sheridan modified DeBoer's offensive system, to utilize the best skills of Jalen Milroe. The 2025 offense will be different and Ty Simpson (along with Austin Mack) has a headstart in understanding the DeBoer offensive system. The son of a football coach, Ty Simpson has often been described as a coach on the field.
Ty Simpson does not have all the physical attributes of Jalen Milroe. The same can be said for many college quarterbacks. He is not short on arm strength and his accuracy on short to midrange throws will be an upgrade for the Crimson Tide. Simpson is questioned for his running skills and scrambling when protection breaks down. He played at a lower level of Tennessee high school football, but his nearly 1,200 yards as a two-year starter was not unimpressive. Simpson was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee in the 2021 season.
Alabama Football Quarterback Competition
Maybe Austin Mack or Keelon Russell shine in the spring and Fall Camp; so much so that one of them beats out Simpson. If so, they will have beaten a QB with the skills to start for many SEC teams. If neither of the younger pair can skip past Simpson, Alabama will have a potentially outstanding QB, and certainly, a capable one; whose patience and determination should make him a leader his teammates can rally around.
Instead of throwing big dollars at a more experienced transfer QB, Alabama has other positions of more pressing need.