Quarterback battles in Tuscaloosa have always carried a different level of intensity, but this year’s competition under Kalen DeBoer feels particularly volatile. With the departure of Nick Saban, the Alabama Crimson Tide faithful are watching closely as a new era takes shape, and much of that transition hinges on who takes the reins under center. Ty Simpson, a former five-star recruit, enters the spring as the presumptive frontrunner. But with fellow blue-chip talent Keelon Russell pushing for reps and third-year system veteran Austin Mack in the mix, the battle is far from over. There’s no shortage of talent in the room—but experience? That’s another story entirely. And as the offseason unfolds, some tough decisions are on the horizon.
The biggest of those decisions may not even be Kalen DeBoer’s to make. According to insider Smoke of the 247Sports show, Austin Mack appears to be on the outside looking in, and a transfer portal move seems increasingly likely. As the analyst bluntly put it, “If you are Austin Mack and you aren’t in the conversation at two and you’re more than three, there’s not a chance that you’re going to play for the next three months. Find a way and get out, just head back out to the Mountain West.” That’s the stark reality for a quarterback who has spent three years learning the system yet still finds himself buried on the depth chart. With Simpson and Russell battling for the No. 1 job, Mack faces an uphill climb to playing time, and at some point, the business of CFB will take over.
The writing may already be on the wall. If Mack isn’t at least in the conversation for the second spot, there’s virtually no path to the field, barring injury or an unforeseen collapse from the players ahead of him. Staying in Tuscaloosa as a third-stringer? That’s not an option for a player with aspirations beyond the scout team.
That leaves Simpson in the driver’s seat—for now. Reports indicate that the locker room is beginning to lean in his direction, a sentiment echoed by Touchdown Alabama’s latest scoop. But the question isn’t just whether he’ll win the job. It’s whether he can keep it. The insider made that clear: “I’m gonna go with Ty Simpson. And I believe that Keelon Russell, he’s going to have to play first in regards to unless the Tide totally blows him out.” That’s the undercurrent of this battle—Simpson may start, but Russell’s presence looms large. If the offense sputters, if the results aren’t immediate, the calls for change will come fast. Alabama’s fanbase isn’t known for patience, and Kalen DeBoer won’t have much of a grace period.
That pressure could hit a boiling point by midseason. “If Ty’s not lighting it up, we’ve all heard about Keelon Russell in the village,” Smoke pointed out. “He’s different in terms of leadership, differently in terms of understanding how to play the game and have confidence in.” Russell, despite his youth, already carries an aura that has some in the building believing he could take over sooner rather than later. Leadership is as valuable as talent. The noise around Russell will only grow louder if Simpson shows any signs of inconsistency.
There’s a sense that October could be the breaking point. “Everybody has their buzz. Buzz might come into effect somewhere in October,” the insider added. That’s when the murmurs of change could turn into full-fledged calls for a new starter. Seemingly, Simpson happens to be the most experienced of the three QBs, with 50 career passes under his belt along with 22 carries and three rushing touchdowns.
Kalen DeBoer’s Simpson is the chosen one
Spring football is all about competition, and at Alabama, the QB1 battle heated up since the day, Jalen Milore left. One thing’s becoming clear—Ty Simpson has fully embraced a leadership role heading into the 2024 season.
That doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed the starting job, but the fact that his teammates see him as one of the top leaders in the locker room? That says a lot. Even wide receiver Germie Bernard has noticed the shift in Simpson’s approach. “I think Ty’s mindset has changed a lot,” Bernard said.
“I wouldn’t say a lot because Ty he’s been had a great mindset, and I think that he’s just really growing. He’s growing into more of a leader. He’s stepping up, and he knows what it takes. He played behind a pretty good QB. I think that he has what it takes to get the job done.” That “pretty good QB” he sat behind? Oh, just Milroe, who led Alabama to an SEC Championship and a CFP berth last season.
The battle, though, is far from over.
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