Greg McElroy knows what it takes to be the starting quarterback of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Things have changed from the Nick Saban era to the Kalen DeBoer regime, but the expectation remains championship-or-bust in Tuscaloosa.
McElroy was on the good side of those expectations in 2010 when he led the Crimson Tide to a BCS National Championship victory over the Texas Longhorns in the Rose Bowl.
The former signal-caller spent some time as a backup quarterback in the NFL, but he’s now a prominent college football analyst.
McElroy believes redshirt junior Ty Simpson will ultimately replace Jalen Milroe in Alabama. Simpson is squaring off with redshirt sophomore Austin Mack — who followed DeBoer from Washington — and true freshman Keelon Russell, a 5-star recruit from Alabama’s 2025 class.
On Thursday, McElroy went on the “Andy and Ari On3 Podcast” to discuss the Crimson Tide’s quarterback competition heading into 2025.
“I am still of the belief that Ty Simpson is the guy to beat. Now, will he beat [the others out]? Will other guys elevate and beat [Simpson out]? Perhaps,” McElroy said (h/t On3). “Ty Simpson, I think if you would’ve asked me two years ago, I would’ve said he was the guy to beat because that was coming from the staff. This guy, as a redshirt freshman, the staff all believed his skill set would’ve potentially put them in position to, if he played his best, be at their best offensively.”
McElroy explained that Simpson didn’t have a great spring in 2024 and was middling in the fall as a redshirt freshman; thus, Milroe took over as the starter for the Crimson Tide.
He’s not sure DeBoer will name a starter right away because he won’t want to risk any hurt feelings with only three quarterbacks on scholarship right now.
McElroy also admitted that Mack and Russell have higher ceilings than Simpson, but he seems to think Simpson’s seniority will work in his favor.
“I think it’s going to be really interesting. I’ll still be surprised if wasn’t Ty at the beginning of the year for the Tide,” McElroy said.
Simpson has thrown just 50 passes over the past three seasons for Alabama and hasn’t yet thrown a touchdown for the Tide. If McElroy is to be believed, that may change this fall.
