Ahead of a crucial season for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide, the program’s biggest question mark may be nearing a final answer. Following Jalen Milroe’s departure for the 2025 NFL Draft, the Crimson Tide embarked on an important search for their next starting quarterback — and according to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, there’s already a favorite for the job.
Though Milroe’s performance throughout the 2024 NCAA season was quite polarizing, with many sharing their skepticism, there was no one else in the Crimson Tide’s program who could challenge him for the number one spot in the depth chart.
However, that’s all changed after Milroe declared for the Draft. Now, DeBoer and Alabama boast a deep QB room with different talents in it. Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell are battling for the starting job in Tuscaloosa.
Each quarterback brings a unique skill set and level of experience: Simpson, a redshirt junior; Mack, a redshirt sophomore; and Russell, who is in his first year of college football, which, in hindsight, puts him slightly behind in the competition.
Jalen Milroe #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after their 34-20 win over the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Following Alabama’s A-Day, which replaced the school’s spring game, Grubb issued a bold confession, hinting at who is expected to be the Tide’s new QB1.
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“If we’re playing a football game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would start,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb stated, per BamaOnLine.
Big shoes to fill
The Crimson Tide has seen some elite quarterback talent in recent years, setting the bar high for Simpson, or whoever takes over under center for Alabama. Standing where stars like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Bryce Young, and Jalen Milroe have stood, the new signal caller for the ‘Script A’ will need to have nerves of steel.
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Uncertainty is the best word to describe Alabama’s status quo heading into the 2025 NCAA season. They’ve seen a very limited sample size from their three potential quarterbacks, and the clock is ticking for DeBoer to make an official decision and stick with it heading into the fall.
