Paul Finebaum claims Kalen DeBoer has a better QB in Ty Simpson compared to Jalen Milroe

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is very high on Alabama this coming season, which will be Year 2 for head coach Kalen DeBoer. When posed the question of Alabama going over or under 9.5 wins, Finebaum slammed the over.

Naturally, there’s going to be more pressure on DeBoer and Alabama in 2025 considering they missed out on the College Football Playoff last year. If they miss it again, well, we don’t want to get that far yet.

The key for Finebaum is quarterback Ty Simpson. If he’s as good as advertised, he should be able to pilot DeBoer’s offense to more success.

“I am going with more, and I know exactly what happened last year in Kalen DeBoer’s first season, but this team is better,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “He has a better quarterback, Ty Simpson, you may not have heard of him. Jalen Milroe was great and he was also ice cold at times. Simpson, I think is serviceable. He will lead this offense. The defense is the best Alabama has had since about seven or eight years ago. And I think Alabama has a legitimate shot at winning the SEC and the national championship.”

As far as how different Alabama will look on offense compared to Milroe, that remains to be seen. However, Simpson gave his thoughts on the matter as he enters his second season playing for DeBoer. Ryan Grubb coming in as offensive coordinator will certainly help.

“Coach Grubb coming in, he’s going to put his stuff in from being from the NFL,” Simpson said at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La. “But I also think that me and Jalen have different playing abilities, I guess. Jalen, his legs were very unique. Everybody else saw that. That guy is [as] freakish [an] athlete I’ve ever seen. I feel like I’m a good athlete, as well, but Jalen does things better than I did. But I also do things, some, better than Jalen. It just depends on what the game is that week and what they do.

“We’re going to be true to our identity and get our playmakers the ball, but also understand that we’ve got a good offensive line up front. I’m very, very excited about what’s to hold in the future.”

DeBoer hasn’t named a winner of the QB competition yet. But Simpson appears to be the frontrunner against Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.