Kalen DeBoer reveals how much Alabama's offense will change based on who wins starting QB job

Kalen DeBoer recognizes the importance of building an offense around your quarterback. He did it at Fresno State with Jake Haener, at Washington with Michael Penix Jr. and last season during Year 1 at Alabama with Jalen Milroe.

His most substantial decision in Year 2 is choosing the quarterback who’ll take the reins of the Crimson Tide offense in 2025. Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are competing for the starting job, but only one will be chosen to lead the team into its Week 1 showdown against Florida State. 

Whoever DeBoer chooses, it’s easy to see that the coach will adjust Alabama’s offense to fit their skill set in the most efficient way. During an appearance on Always College Football with Greg McElroy, the Crimson Tide head coach elaborated on his plan to make the most out of his signal-caller’s abilities before he settles on a QB1. 

“I think all three quarterbacks we have do have the ability to extend plays,” DeBoer articulated. “You know, what they’re doing as far as moving the chains, using their legs to keep plays alive. Austin Mack, even as big as he is, once he gets moving, he covers a lot of ground. Ty [Simpson] was a great dual-threat. Keelon [Russell] has the same abilities to make people miss and probably is faster than most people think. But I think we’re more similar as a group.

“The diversity of who we have, as far as skill sets and how different they were and how you wanted to use them — you know, Jalen [Milroe], as far as explosiveness, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like it with a quarterback that could use his legs, or had that luxury in that fashion. You have to make sure you’re utilizing the skill sets of your players. Jalen certainly had a — I referred to it as a superpower, that we had to make sure we had incorporated into our plan.”

Alas, there’s an added level of intrigue to see where DeBoer goes for his quarterback. Milroe was the incumbent starter when he chose to take over from Nick Saban, and it would’ve been a controversial decision to move away from him in 2024. Now, the Alabama offense is an open book, ripe for the fixing.

The choice DeBoer makes will have an effect on the confidence fans have in him and set the tone for the 2025 season. After falling short of the College Football Playoff last season, the coach will be expected to punch the Crimson Tide’s ticket to the 12-team dance in Year 2.

It remains to be seen which quarterback Kalen DeBoer runs with for Alabama in 2025. Even though he’s early in his tenure, it’d be disastrous to pick the wrong one. The pressure is on for the coach to make the right choice between the three talented throwers.