Ty Simpson heaps praise on Garrett Nussmeier’s skillset, compares background

On the field, quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Garrett Nussmeier are rivals, competing for the Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers respectively. Off the field, however, the two have grown close over the years.

Simpson recently spoke at the Manning Passing Academy. There, he dove into their relationship and praised the LSU signal caller.

“What’s to not like about Garrett Nussmeier’s game, you know,” Ty Simpson said. “He’s very tough. He stays in the pocket. He’s got a very fluid throwing motion. He’s very accurate. I’ve known Nuss for a long time. He’s always been a high-energy guy no matter where he’s been. So, that’s what I really enjoy about Nuss.”

Part of what makes the relationship between Simpson and Nussmeier unique is that their backgrounds are fairly similar. They both come from coaching families, which has shaped who they are. On top of that, they both entered college as highly touted prospects who stayed at their initial school and developed, rather than transferring out, waiting their turn to start.

“I take that back to Alabama just being who I am and being that high-energy guy. Just understanding the love of football. Nuss’ dad is the offensive coordinator at New Orleans. My dad is the head football coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee-Martin. So, we have a lot of similarities,” Simpson said. “We’ve waited our turn. So, Nuss is a great guy and I’m looking forward to playing him this year.”

This relationship goes back to their time as high school recruits. Like many other quarterbacks, they’ve known each other since before college, having gone to camps together, giving them time to build up that relationship.

“We knew each other, I guess it would have been in high school. We went to a camp together called QB Collective,” Simpson said. “And I had known him just because he was ahead of me and was committed to Ole Miss. I don’t know if I want committed to Alabama at the time, but, of course, we’re gonna know all the big time recruits and stuff. Me and Nuss just kind of hit it off. We’re very similar in some ways, and I was like, ‘This guy’s a pretty good guy.’ So, me, him, Arch [Manning], Walker Howard, Luke Altmyer, Miller Moss. Guys like that. We’re hanging out this weekend and just — I hadn’t seen these guys in a long time. So, to be able to hang out with him, kick back, relax, and not think about anything, is what I enjoy.”

Ahead of the 2025 season, Garrett Nussmeier enters as a projected first round NFL Draft pick. Ty Simpson, meanwhile, is expected to win the starting quarterback job at Alabama and have his own opportunity to break out. They’ll also have the chance to go at it head-to-head on November 8th when the Crimson Tide hosts the Tigers.