Alabama’s tryst with hoarding 5-star talent in bulk precedes Kalen DeBoer. For the entirety of the Nick Saban era in Alabama, heading into Tuscaloosa was akin to going to a bar on the weekend. You knew you were about to get battered and then leave empty-handed. Multiple championships were won because Saban’s coaching prowess was meshed with quality personnel at his disposal. The house that Saban built has been a revolving door of high-rated recruits. Tuscaloosa has seen more 5-stars than downtown LA. Now that the responsibility to keep adding to Bama’s rich history sits on DeBoer’s shoulders, one of his first litmus tests is how he handles his first QB conundrum.
On the surface level, Coach DeBoer’s decision should be fairly straightforward. Hand over Jalen Milroe’s vacated QB1 shirt to QB2 Ty Simpson – somebody who’s been patient, paid his dues, and offers a seamless transition in theory. Simpson has been in the program longer than his contemporaries Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. He’s a former 5-star recruit who’s been preparing for this moment, honing his skills from the shadows. But things in College Football hardly ever work out with this much smoothness and linearity. The transition at QB was bound to throw up some curveballs. They’ve come about now, and Milroe’s successor could be Austin Mack instead.
New OC Ryan Grubb’s arrival fans the flames of why Mack is creeping up on Simpson. A new OC potentially renders Ty Simpson’s knowledge of the offensive system and plays a little outdated. Grubb comes over from Washington, having been the offensive coordinator under Kalen DeBoer there as well. Austin Mack, too, was with DeBoer and Grubb in Washington. The former 4-star has a case for being more in touch with the schemes and play calling. Which is likely baked into the latest revelation out of Tuscaloosa.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Austin Mack “has been turning heads in spring practice and is a serious contender for the starting job.” Sure, DeBoer will want to make his decision based on a meritocracy rather than seniority. Being in the program longer doesn’t guarantee you’ll earn the shirt. But you’ve gotta feel for Ty Simpson, who’s not wavered and stayed ten toes down. A stance that may soon change according to Bama insider Mick Gillispie. Discussing the QB dilemma on the Elephant in the Room podcast, Gillispie envisions a world where Ty Simpson could hit the portal post-spring- having never started a game for the Tide.
Alabama QB Austin Mack has been turning heads in spring practice and is a serious contender for the starting job, sources tell @PeteNakos_
Intel: https://t.co/pE6PhlgmEZ pic.twitter.com/qwNM0DHqtX
— On3 (@On3sports) March 19, 2025
“If Mack ends up beating out [Simpson], he’s probably going to transfer,” claimed Gillispie. There’s plenty of rationale behind this notion. Entering his redshirt junior year, Simpson cannot afford to waste another season of eligibility as a backup. He needs to be a starter, which his aforementioned 5-star talent and patience over 3 years have warranted. If it isn’t at Bama, then it’ll begrudgingly have to come about elsewhere.
The existence of the spring portal is to afford players like Simpson a re-do in case they fail to solidify a spot in camp. Gillispie’s co-host and former Bama QB Jake Coker concurred with his sentiment about Simpson potentially departing. “Nobody can blame him [if he gets beaten out]…[but] it’s hard not to pull for Ty. He’s stuck in there for as long as he has without transferring.” he said. Coker did, however, acknowledge that “the best players have to play” If Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb indeed land on Austin Mack being the best player, it seems like curtains for Ty Simpson’s Bama stint. Before it even got into gear. Keelon Russel’s arrival, too, gives this working theory more legs.
A world where even Keelon Russell leapfrogs Ty Simpson does exist
The term ‘true freshman’ just doesn’t equate to the same in the current makeup of CFB. The days of cagey high schoolers making the step up are almost a thing of the past. No more cagey, only courageous. Athletes now are ready off the cuff. Bama’s own Ryan Williams is a testament to this. The 18-year-old is taking to CFB like a duck to water, presenting Kalen DeBoer with a chance to trust Keelon Russell more than most freshman QBs. Maybe not redshirt him and let him get minutes as a backup, something he’s more than capable of looking at his resume.
Keelon Russell’s case for being in the mix as a true freshman is pretty airtight. He’s the Gatorade National Football POTY, for starters. He threw for over 4000 yards and 55 TDs in his senior year at Duncanville. He’s spearheaded them to 2 state championships. Russell has been rated a 100 on the 247Sports composite ranking. This makes him the highest-rated recruit in Bama history. Thus, his overtaking Simpson off the bat isn’t outside the realm of possibility.
But conventional wisdom suggests Ty Simpson deserves his shot. Unless he’s looked far inferior to Austin Mack in spring practice, he should start the season as QB1. But there is no smoke without fire. Pete Nakos’ report, in tandem with general positivity around Mack and the Washington connection, does suggest he could win the job. It wouldn’t be a travesty if Simpson is left hung to dry, such is the nature of competitive sport. But it won’t sit right with the traditionalists. Alas, Kalen DeBoer will hope he can land on the right guy and kick his Bama tenure out of purgatory. As hyperbolic as that sounds, the standards are the standards at this dynastic blueblood.
The post Austin Mack’s Rise Puts 5-Star Alabama QB on Potential Transfer Watch as Kalen DeBoer’s Plan Nearly Confirmed appeared first on EssentiallySports.