Kalen DeBoer Names Starter if Season Started Today

It's the age-old question at Alabama, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer keep answering it, but with a caveat: Who is going to be the starting quarterback at Alabama this season?

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If we played today, [Ty Simpson] would be our starter," DeBoer told SEC Network. "We announced that after the spring, nothing's really changed since then. He's done a great job of continuing to grow himself, and that's under the tutelage of Ryan Grubb, Nick Sheridan, those guys are pouring all in, to not just Ty, but our whole quarterback room."

"I'm excited about the growth of Ty. I think, again, trying to make sure that a guy gets out there and doesn't feel he's gotta be all-world, even though we want our quarterback to be more than just a guy that distributes the ball. We need him to go out and make plays. He'll grow into that; he doesn't need to prove that and try to do too much. Trust the guys around, trust your offensive line, trust the receiving core that I think is improved as well. Their relationships are important, and their continuity; they're operating on a different level right now."

Whoever the starting quarterback is, experience is a concern. There are zero collegiate starts among the three quarterbacks on Alabama's roster. How confident is DeBoer that the three quarterbacks can run the offense and be 'the guy' in his offense?

"Experience is a big deal. Trying not to do too much when you don't have to, taking what they give you, trying to prove yourself to your teammates, everyone watching. Just
trying to work through that," DeBoer said. "Again, that's where consistency, continuity, them being comfortable with Ryan Grubb, Nick Sheridan, Mitch Dahlen, senior analyst on our staff, myself. Them knowing that we believe in you. Just be you, go out there and don't try to do too much. Just go execute what you're supposed to.

"They got the tools. Now you're just trying to put them in those moments as much as possible where the lack of experience, maybe from a game situational standpoint, is able to come out in practice, help them feel prepared. I'll say this. Going through a quarterback competition, that's pressure alone.

"These guys are going through pressure every throw. Whether it was a competition or not, we would analyze it, break it down, chart it. Every throw and drive that these guys are a part of it's critical to them winning the job. I think sometimes going through a competition prepares you for the pressures that are going to come within a season. I've seen that over and over throughout the years when I've had other competitions, as well."

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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_.