Ty Simpson will open the 2025 season as Alabama‘s starting quarterback, coach Kalen DeBoer said.
Simpson, who has served as Alabama’s backup quarterback each of the past two seasons and is in his fourth year on campus, beat out redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell for the job.
Simpson and his teammates were informed of the decision Monday during a meeting.
“They went through the X’s and O’s of why I would be the starter and said they were really proud of the QB room for how tight-knit we were,” Simpson said.
DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said multiple times this summer that Simpson would be the starter if the Crimson Tide were to play a game right then.
“That’s what’s great and why I love rooting for Ty is just the journey he’s been on and the way he’s been loyal to Alabama, loyal to his teammates,” DeBoer said. “He continued to stay and keep fighting and do it in a way where he never lowered his level of character and always kept being a great teammate, first and foremost. So it makes it really easy, from a teammate standpoint, to root for him.”
Alabama held its first preseason scrimmage last Saturday, and sources told ESPN that all three quarterbacks played well but that Simpson’s command of the offense was especially good and that he was the most comfortable of the three.
Simpson, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound redshirt junior, hasn’t started a game at Alabama. His most extensive and meaningful action came two years ago at South Florida, when he came off the bench in the second quarter to lead Alabama to 17 unanswered points in a 17-3 win. Simpson finished 5-of-9 for 73 yards and added a 1-yard touchdown run in a game that was tied 3-3 at the half.
Simpson and Jalen Milroe competed for the starting job heading into the 2023 season. Milroe won the job, but then was benched against South Florida. Simpson and Tyler Buchner split time against the Bulls, and Milroe returned to the starting role for the rest of that season and all of 2024.
“My journey is like no other,” Simpson said. “And I think it meant a lot to the guys as well, knowing that I’ve had opportunities to leave and I didn’t because I want to be here, and I want to be with my guys.
“Not only is it hard, sitting and waiting in this new era of college football, but you are sitting and waiting at the best, most competitive college football program in the nation. So I’m very excited for the opportunity I’ve been given.”
Simpson was ESPN’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback nationally in the 2022 class and chose Alabama over Clemson and Tennessee. His father, Jason, is the head coach at UT Martin.
Alabama plays at Florida State on Aug. 30 to open the season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
