Kalen DeBoer maintains Ty Simpson as Alabama's current starting QB at SEC Media Day

Going into his second season as the head coach at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer is looking for the program’s next starting quarterback. There, it remains an open competition, though Ty Simpson does seem to have the lead in the race.

At SEC Media Days, DeBoer shared that there are three quarterbacks in the race, including Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. However, the most experienced of the group, Simpson, currently has the edge.

“Really got three guys that have taken all the snaps,” Kalen DeBoer said. “Not a majority, but all of them. Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. That’s really by age and years of experience where it starts. We did make it known at the end of the spring that if we played a game at that point, and it really wouldn’t have changed even at this point because there’s nothing that’s happened as far as practicing, Ty Simpson would be the guy that would take the first snaps and be our starter.”

Ty Simpson has been at Alabama since 2022, staying as a backup amid the coaching change last season. He would appear in six games during DeBoer’s first year. During that limited playing time in 2024, Simpson completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 167 yards. He also rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown.

“Challenge to all of them at that time that they have to continue to take the strides. They’ve got to continue in their own ways and prove. I know they’ve really worked hard to do that. Excited to see that progress two weeks from today, but they have the tools. Ty throws a catchable ball. He’s smart. He’s been in college football now going into year four,” DeBoer said. “He’s seen the ups and downs. He’s got a great relationship with the team. He’s a leader that way. He’s really owned things, I think, on another level.”

For his part, Austin Mack has been with Kalen DeBoer since 2023 and transferred from Washington to Alabama to follow his coach ahead of 2024. He only threw three passes last season, but that included two completions for 39 yards and a touchdown.

“Then, Austin Mack. If he walked in here, the guy is 6-6, 230, 235. He’s got a presence about him,” DeBoer said. “And that carries over to how he throws the football. Just really took his most meaningful snaps in college this spring, working with the ones and twos.”

Keelon Russell played his high school football at Duncanville in Texas. There, he was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2025. He was the second-ranked recruit and the second-ranked quarterback prospect nationally in that cycle.

“Then, Keelon Russell, you would never have guessed — I guess a lot of guys would be graduating from high school here about a month ago — really a high school senior. Early enrollee that came in just learning the system, learning college football. Has taken these huge strides over the course of the spring,” DeBoer said. “But again, getting that install over and over again in the summer, going into the fall. I’m confident he’s going to make those big jumps as well.”

Alabama and Kalen DeBoer will have some time to make the official quarterback decision. The Crimson Tide don’t open their season until August 30th on the road against Florida State. In the meantime, those three will continue to battle for the starting job.

“So, those are the three. Kind of told you if we played today where it would be,” DeBoer said. “But all three of them have the potential to do some really big things in our offense. I think a lot of it has to do with what’s around them as well.”