What Kalen DeBoer, Ty Simpson Said About Simpson Being Named Starting Quarterback

On Monday, Alabama announced to the team that Ty Simpson would be the starting quarterback ahead of the 2025 football season, which begins in 19 days for the Crimson Tide against Florida State.

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Simpson and the quarterbacks were told before the rest of the team.

"[Ryan] Grubb, [Nick] Sheridan, and [Kalen] DeBoer came into our quarterback meetings earlier, and it was just like, 'Hey guys, we've come to a decision and Ty is going to be our starter,'" Simpson said in his first interview as the starting quarterback with Yea Alabama. "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, a redshirt junior, waited his turn - a rarity nowadays in college football - after spending a year behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe before spending an additional two seasons behind Milroe as Alabama's backup quarterback. He enters his fourth year in Tuscaloosa as Alabama's starting quarterback.

"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."

"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 told Yea Alabama. "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.

"He really came into fall camp and had this way about him that was just confident, had a swagger," DeBoer continued. "But not something where it was all about him or in an arrogant way. He's continued to take steps from what he did this spring, and he's done a great job taking care of the football and still being a guy who will push the ball down the field and create explosives.

"He's just been really consistent, and that's what you're looking for. He's been really good as a leader, and just the command of the offense and the trust that everyone has in him, you can see it continue to build."

Simpson was named to the leadership council in the spring and attended the Manning Passing Academy in late June. Simpson did a good job of holding off strong competition from redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell. Despite Simpson ultimately claiming the starting gig, DeBoer said there were no hard feelings from the other quarterbacks.

"One thing that's cool to me is that that room is crazy tight," DeBoer said in his interview. "So when I kept saying that there's a healthy competition and there's a high level of character, and that these guys are really focused on themselves first and foremost, and leading and leading in their own way, it all overlaps.

"No one's really feeling like they're getting their toes stepped on or overstepping their bounds, like it's real. Because with those three guys, everything I just said about Ty is what I can say about Austin and Keelon in their progression."

Being named the starting quarterback is a dream come true, especially for Ty Simpson. He shared how those dreams ended with Yea Alabama.

"It ended with confetti in Miami, Florida," Simpson said. "Especially with the chance to leave a legacy under Kalen DeBoer, a first national championship at Alabama. So I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Simpson will begin his starting career in Tallahassee, Florida, on August 30, against the Florida State Seminoles.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.