Everything Ty Simpson said after being named Alabama starting QB

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A day after being named Alabama’s starting quarterback, Ty Simpson was made available for interviews after the Crimson Tide’s 11th practice of preseason camp.

Below is everything Simpson said after officially being named the starter at Alabama.

Simpson on how it feels to be the starting quarterback at Alabama…

“It’s a dream come true. I came here out of high school wanting to be the starting quarterback. And I’m just excited. And I can’t thank my teammates enough for making me look good. And I’m ready for the opportunity.”

Simpson on how happy he is that he chose to stay at Alabama…

“I think it’s abnormal for sure, to not transfer in today’s day and age. But I don’t regret it at all. I love being here. I love my teammates. I love this university. I learned a lot from the guys that played before me, like Bryce and Jalen. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. And then the guys behind me, like Keelon and Austin. I think that they pushed me and they elevated my game to a game that it’s never seen before. So we’re gonna continue to grow each and every day as a quarterback room, as a group, and I’m excited about it.”

Simpson on the moment he found out he was named the starter…

“We had a quarterback meeting, and it was just us three and then Grubb, Coach Sheridan and Coach DeBoer were in there. And they were just like, ‘Guys, hey, we’re gonna name Ty the starter today.’ And it went from there, and they were really appreciative of me and congratulated me, Austin and Keelon did. And they just told me to go get it. And like I said, I can’t thank those guys enough because I wouldn’t be here if they didn’t push me every single day.”

Simpson on what he felt in that moment…

“It was surreal for sure. It was something I’ve dreamed about since I came here. But I’m not gonna sit here and say nothing I didn’t expect. I feel like I worked my tail off for it. And I’m just excited for the opportunity to go out there with my guys and compete each and every day.”

Simpson on his relationship with Ryan Grubb…

“That’s my guy, man. He came in here and I knew him a little bit when he first got here back last year. But the whole Seahawks thing happened. But when he came back, man, he’s just been so great. I’ve learned so much ball from him and Coach Sheridan. And they’ve just been in unison when it comes to everything, to the detail, the routes, to the run mesh or whatever. And I’ve learned a lot of ball from those guys. And so I feel like that helps me as a quarterback, being a coach’s son. And just trying to make sure that I put the team in the best position to win.”

Simpson on dealing with a different coordinator every year of college…

“I wouldn’t say it held me back at all. I think about the guys when I first got here, I had Bill O’Brien, I had Alex Mortensen, who’s a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator at UAB. And then Derek Dooley, learned a ton of ball from those guys and Bryce. And then Tommy Rees, John McNulty. And then Coach Dooley was there my second year. I learned a different type of offense and learned just different types of schemes or whatever. And then my third year, I have Coach DeBoer, Coach Sheridan, and then Coach Grubb this year.

“And I don’t feel like it’s something bad at all. I’ve learned a lot of stuff from those guys and a lot of different stuff that I’ve taught the other guys of like, ‘Hey, this is how we did it in the past. Maybe that’ll help you read it a certain type of way,’ or whatever. So I wouldn’t say by any means it’s hurt me. I think it’s helped me by a lot.”

Simpson on how this quarterback battle was different than past competitions…

“It’s different just because, one, I’m older. But it just is a different type of group. Those guys have helped me a lot. And they were just great guys or whatever. Being older definitely helps, and they push me every single day, so I can’t thank them enough.”

Simpson on if he was more confident having gone through a similar experience…

“I definitely feel like I have just because I know what to expect. And I know, hey, the mistakes I did last time, I’m gonna make sure I’m not gonna do that again. And just being older and confident and understanding, like, hey, I’m just gonna be the best I can every single day. And my teammates, man, they gave me a lot of confidence just getting out every day, just making plays for me and blocking. I can’t thank those guys enough.”

Simpson on who he heard from after the decision…

“Greg McElroy texted me, which is really cool. I really look up to him a lot. A bunch of my family, a bunch of my friends, a bunch of guys who transferred out have reached out. It means a lot because I’m a big relationship person. I’m a people person. So guys who left, I really try to connect with them in a lot of different ways. I may not understand why they left, but I just want them to know that they can always count on me and understand that I’ll be there for them, anything they need. And I think I take that into my game, too, that understanding like, hey, I’m gonna be the best teammate I can be and make sure that I’m gonna do everything I can to help our team win.”

Simpson on who he first called after finding out he was the starter…

“Definitely my family, my dad, and I think my mom and dad started crying or whatever. So it was surreal. So I called my dad later that night, and then I took a nap.”

Simpson on if he called Tyler Booker…

“I texted Book, and he called me, and he was like, ‘I better be at the draft like you were with me.’ So it’ll be a fun year for sure. I’m excited to watch him play for the Cowboys.”

Simpson on what he’s seen from Alabama’s wide receiver room…

“We got a bunch of studs, man. I’m really excited about that group. We got a transfer from Isaiah from Miami, who I knew in Nashville. Germ’s coming off a big year, and I think he’s gonna have a better year. Even the same with Ryan. He’s older now, bigger and stronger. Then you got guys like Derek Meadows, Lotzeir Brooks, Rico Scott, who are stepping up in big ways. And then you got Cole Adams. And Bak is (transitioning) from defense to offense, man. 

“Those guys are doing a great job, and they’re really detailed in their routes. And Shep has done a great job. He’s making sure that even on run plays that they’re blocking and being selfless, man. So I’m really excited about that group. And it’s my job to get those good players the ball.”

Simpson on his process over the next couple of weeks… 

“Really, nothing’s gonna change. I’m gonna make sure I go through my process of just being the best I can be. I gotta make sure that my teammates can count on me and make sure they have confidence in me. And I’m gonna make sure that I can give us the best chance to win. And whether that’s hand the ball off 50 times or throwing it 50 times, I gotta understand my job and make sure that I give us the best chance to win on Saturdays.”

Simpson on how he feels he’s a different QB than the last time he was in a competition…

“I’ve talked to Coach Saban a lot. He always would tell me, ‘Don’t worry about the outside noise. Don’t worry about external factors. Don’t worry about anybody else. Just be the best you can be.’ And I really didn’t understand that when I was a young guy. I would always be worried about somebody else or somebody at a different type of school or whatever, or be looking somewhere else. And I’d be like, man, I could’ve played there or whatever. But he always kept saying, ‘Just focus on yourself. Focus on the best you can be.’ 

“And then when Coach DeBoer came, he talked about going 1-0. And winners win, because that’s what winners do. And I had to sit back and pray about it and just think to myself, man, I gotta do something. I can’t keep going down this road of just worrying and having anxiety or whatever. 

“So I sat back in my room one night, and I was like, man, I’m gonna pray. I’m gonna give everything I got to the Lord and just make sure I understand that like, hey, I’m just gonna be the best player, the best Ty Simpson I can be. And I think these last couple years, that’s what I’ve really tried to do. Just make sure, like, hey, don’t do anything fancy, man. Like, even though it’s the University of Alabama, just play football. And just be the best version of yourself you can be.”

Simpson on what kind of revelations he had in those moments…

“I remember my sophomore year when it happened, really. It was after a spring scrimmage. I came in. I didn’t really do a lot. I came in, I just started crying. I was just like, man, what is going on, man? I just don’t feel like it’s not fun to me anymore. And my dad asked me, he’s like, ‘Man, how’s your faith doing? What are you doing to make sure that you give everything and trust in the Lord?’ And I had to sit back, and I was like, man, you’re right. I’m more worried about how people perceive me in football than they do how I walk in my faith and how I am as a person, man. 

“So football means a lot to me, don’t get me wrong. I make sure that I’m gonna do everything because he’s given me this platform and he’s given me this opportunity. But no matter how many touchdowns I throw, no matter how many wins I have at the University of Alabama, I’m a Christian first, and I know that I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”

Simpson if he heard from Nick Saban after being named the starter… 

“No, but I can’t wait to see him, though. I want to tell him thank you, and he means a lot to me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his guidance and everything he’s done for me.”

Simpson on the areas that he can still grow and develop…

“I feel like I can still grow and develop every day of just understanding the offense better, understanding the defensive coordinators and just understanding, hey, this is why we do it. So I’m gonna continue to grow with that, and Coach Grubb, meeting with Coach Sheridan or whatever and just make sure that I understand why and make sure that we get the best chance to win these Saturdays.”

Simpson on how he would describe himself as a quarterback…

“I feel like I’m a dual-threat guy. I can sit in the pocket or I can escape and make plays. But also, I think an underrated part of my game is that I’m gonna do what it takes to win. So I’m gonna do the gritty stuff. I’m gonna make sure that the first down is 4th and 3, you know what I mean? So like I said, man, those guys make me look good in that locker room. With our wide receiver group, our running back group, our O-line, man, I’m so excited about these guys, man. They make me look good. So I gotta make sure that I give them everything I got. 

“So that’s what I tell them every day, that when I go in the huddle, like man, I’m gonna go hard for you today. We talk about being unbreakable all the time, and the only way I’m unbreakable is if we’re all unbreakable together as an offensive team.”

Simpson on his approach to the gimme throws in this offense…

“I think it’s just make the easy one easy. We got, like you said earlier, man, we got a deep wide receiver room, and then we got a deep running back room, and then we have the best offensive line in the country, man. So why would I make things harder than what they are, you know what I mean? So when the defense makes me check the ball down, give the ball in space to Jam Miller, give the ball in space to Ryan, give the ball in space to those guys. Let’s go let them work, man. It’s not a hard game. We try to make it harder than it is. You get the first down, and then go for the next play. Man, those guys do a really good job, and I’m excited for them, and I can’t wait to see how they do.”

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