The Alabama Crimson Tide are going to have a new quarterback under center this season. Jalen Milroe was the guy in Alabama from 2021-24, but he’s now trying to find his way in the NFL as a third-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks.
Meanwhile, while redshirt junior Ty Simpson is the likely starter when the Crimson Tide open the season against Florida State to start the season on Aug. 30, head coach Kalen DeBoer has yet to tip his hand in this quarterback competition.
Whoever the starter will be is going to be determined in fall camp, but there are baseline expectations in Tuscaloosa. Obviously championships are the goal with Nick Saban’s shadow ever looming, but first things first, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is looking for a quarterback who can play clean football.
“Consistency. Take care of the ball. You gotta be a guy that can move us forward,” Grubb told the media regarding his expectations for whomever ends up being Alabama’s starting quarterback (h/t On3). “I think one of the biggest things that we’re stressing right now is minimizing negative yardage plays.
“Starts with us making sure we got the right mic points on protection or run scheme. So make sure the ball is moving forward and the O-line’s on the same page. And then, you know, making great decisions with the football.”
That, of course, is easier said than done, but turnovers and negative plays can be a killer for even the most talented of football teams, so it makes sense that this edict has come down from on high from DeBoer.
He went 9-4 in his first season at Alabama, which, at most schools, would be a decent debut. As mentioned, expectations are extremely high in Tuscaloosa, though, so DeBoer may not even be able to afford another average year.
The expectation is the Crimson Tide will at the very least be a College Football Playoff team, and for that to be the case, they’ll need at least a competent starting quarterback, if not a star.
If it’s not Simpson who wins the quarterback competition, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack may be next in line. Alabama also has a five-star freshman on the roster in Keelon Russell, and DeBoer has been clear that he has high expectations for him once he fully gets his feet under him as a college quarterback.
Simpson has been a backup for three seasons, but he is also a former five-star recruit.
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