Kalen DeBoer chooses starting signal caller for Week 1 against Florida State originally appeared on The Sporting News
Alabama is set to begin the 2025 season with Ty Simpson under center. Sources confirmed the decision was announced to the team during a Monday meeting, finalizing the competition that played out over the summer.
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Ty Simpson named Alabama’s starting quarterback for 2025
Head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb had hinted throughout the offseason that Simpson was leading the race. Their belief was reinforced after the first preseason scrimmage, where Simpson’s control of the offense and poise under pressure stood out compared to the other candidates.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound redshirt junior is entering his fourth season in Tuscaloosa. He has spent the past two years as the backup, waiting for his opportunity. His most notable appearance came in 2023 against South Florida, where he sparked the Tide to 17 unanswered points in a 17-3 win. In that game, he completed 5-of-9 passes for 73 yards and ran for a short touchdown.
The QB battle
Simpson’s main competition came from redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell. While all three quarterbacks performed well in camp, Simpson’s experience and grasp of the playbook proved decisive.
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This isn’t the first time Simpson has been in a tight quarterback race. In 2023, he battled Jalen Milroe for the starting role. Milroe opened that season as QB1 but was briefly benched against South Florida, allowing Simpson and Tyler Buchner to split time. Milroe later reclaimed the job, holding it through 2024.
A highly regarded prospect out of the 2022 recruiting class, Simpson was ranked as ESPN’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and picked Alabama over Clemson and Tennessee. His football roots run deep, as his father, Jason Simpson, is the head coach at UT Martin.
The Crimson Tide takes on Florida State on August 30th.
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