Last Tuesday, first-year Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb opened his weekly media availability by confirming the worst-kept secret in Tuscaloosa — Ty Simpson is the Crimson Tide’s new QB1.
“Hey guys, Ty Simpson is our starter. How’s that (for an opening statement)?” Grubb said flatly.
Short and to the point, much like Alabama’s offseason quarterback competition between Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and Five-Stat Plus+ true freshman Keelon Russell. And while the end result had long been expected, Grubb’s cogent confirmation of Simpson’s ascension to QB1 only further served to reinforce why college football analysts like David Pollack are so confident the Crimson Tide redshirt junior will ultimately rise to the challenge of his new position.
“Fantastic. Fantastic. … And I think (Simpson is) going to be really good this year,” Pollack said on Thursday’s episode of the See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack podcast. “I think being in the system (for a year will benefit him), but I also think when you watch 15 and when you watch some of his clips from the past, he’s got some wheels now. … There’s plenty of clips of him running around linebackers pretty quickly, making linebackers miss.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Simpson, who arrived in Tuscaloosa as a five-star recruit, the No. 25 overall prospect and the No. 2-rated quarterback in the 2022 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.
Simpson now replaces dynamic, dual-threat QB Jalen Milroe — the same player that beat him out for the starting job two years ago — who left for the NFL after accumulating 71 total touchdowns (including 32 rushing scores) for Alabama’s offense after back-to-back seasons as the Tide’s starting quarterback. But while there may be a dip in rushing production from the QB position in 2025, Pollack suggested it might not be as drastic a drop as many fans are expecting from Simpson, a natural pocket-passer.
“As much as people talk about Jalen Milroe and (his) athletic ability, Simpson can bring the passing game but I think he can also … you’re not aborting the QB run game,” Pollack continued. “Like, I think you can still have some of that to keep guys off balance, and more importantly, extend plays and run this offense. Again, Ty Simpson sat for several years — three years now — learning, growing, to get ready for this moment. Most people would’ve left and transferred, and now he’s got a chance to lead one of the better teams in the country.”
