Calling Ty Simpson. Inside Alabama football quarterback battle that could reshape SEC

Kalen DeBoer needs a new starting quarterback. Now, who’s it going to be?

Alabama took a turn for the worse in DeBoer’s first season, despite him inheriting a proven starter in Jalen Milroe. The position heads toward an uncertain future. Ominous or opportunity?

On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News to unpack Alabama’s quarterback situation, one of the most interesting position battles of the SEC’s offseason.

Subscribe to SEC Football Unfiltered
iTunes | Google Play | Spotify

Ty Simpson headlines the competition, but is that a good thing?

Did DeBoer blunder by not securing a transfer?

Here’s a snippet of the conversation:

TOPPMEYER: Alabama, LSU headlines teams that can crash College Football Playoff in 2025

GOODBREAD: Nick Saban reveals his five favorite Alabama football players to coach

Should we view Alabama’s Ty Simpson with skepticism?

Toppmeyer: Unfairly or not, I view someone who’s been a three-year backup with skepticism in this microwave age of college football. If Simpson possesses top-tier SEC quarterback abilities, why did he spend the past three seasons on Alabama’s bench? Simpson’s lone start against South Florida in 2023 didn’t inspire confidence. Of course, examples exist of veteran backups becoming breakout stars. Carson Beck spent three seasons warming Georgia’s pine before busting out in 2023. (The less said the better about Beck’s 2024 encore.) DeBoer must believe in Simpson. Otherwise, why not add a transfer quarterback? And yet, Hugh Freeze believed in Payton Thorne enough to turn up his nose at transfers last offseason. How’d that turn out? If Simpson thrives, he’ll become a great tale of patience paying off. If he fizzles, DeBoer will rightfully head toward the hot seat.

Goodbread: We simply haven’t seen enough of Simpson in game action to know whether he’s the real deal or not. As for a veteran backup becoming a star, anyone remember a guy named Mac Jones? Yeah, he turned out OK. I don’t necessarily think it speaks to Simpson’s ability that he’s waited to become the starter. Sometimes, it takes the right offensive coordinator being in place, and the light comes on. Simpson playing well wouldn’t shock me. If he protects the ball, that allows Alabama the chance for a quarterback upgrade, after Milroe’s turnover woes this season. On the other hand, if he plays poorly, that reflects negatively on DeBoer’s decision-making.

Would you take Auburn transfer Jackson Arnold over Ty Simpson?

Toppmeyer: I don’t think I would. Both were five-star recruits. Either has yet to show he’s worthy of that billing. Arnold has more experience, but he struggled at Oklahoma. Granted, the Sooners’ porous offensive line and dearth of wide receivers played a hand in that. I think Alabama would have been well-served to add a proven transfer quarterback, but I don’t consider Arnold to be proven. Auburn needed a quarterback, and so he’s a good get for the Tigers, but I might rather roll the dice on the great unknown of Simpson, if forced to choose between the two. If Simpson struggles, never mind Arnold. Let’s get a look at Keelon Russell, Alabama’s five-star signee who enrolled this month.

Goodbread: I’d take Simpson. Arnold’s season as Oklahoma’s starter didn’t inspire confidence. Maybe, Freeze will develop Arnold, but I’d be even more uncomfortable with a quarterback who had a bad year as a starter than I would pulling a new quarterback like Simpson out of the box.