Why Kalen DeBoer’s Decision on Ty Simpson Will Shape His Second Year at Alabama
Let’s evaluate Kalen DeBoer in his second year, based on how his decision regarding Alabama’s quarterback plays out, for better or worse.
Alabama’s choice to not bring in a transfer quarterback signifies a strong belief in Ty Simpson, the longtime backup. Opting for Simpson over a transfer QB aligns with a traditional approach to quarterback selection, reminiscent of Nick Saban’s strategy at Alabama’s peak.
No matter what happens in Kalen DeBoer’s second season at Alabama, it’s crucial to note that he did not pursue a transfer quarterback.
This is not meant as a critique—at least not yet. For now, it’s just a statement of fact.
Given that Ty Simpson has had very limited playing time as Alabama’s backup quarterback over the past three years, much of the evaluation of him must come from what he shows in practice. Apparently, DeBoer feels confident enough in Simpson to make him the front-runner in Alabama’s quarterback competition over other potential transfer options.
Let DeBoer’s success or failure be judged based on how that decision unfolds.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson (15) runs with the ball during a 2023 game against Kentucky at Kroger Field. Quarterback evaluation and development are supposed to be Kalen DeBoer’s strong suits. However, his reputation took a hit when Jalen Milroe struggled during the only season he spent under DeBoer.
To be fair, DeBoer’s hiring in January placed him behind in terms of roster building, and sticking with Milroe seemed like the best choice. Milroe’s time with DeBoer started promisingly, with the quarterback briefly becoming a Heisman contender after a stellar September, but his performance later deteriorated with an increasing number of turnovers.
Now, DeBoer has already made one significant move to energize Alabama’s offense by hiring Ryan Grubb as offensive coordinator, according to the Tuscaloosa News. Grubb was DeBoer’s long-time assistant at Washington and helped lead the team to the national title game in 2023 before spending last season with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
The next priority for DeBoer is resolving Alabama’s quarterback situation.
DeBoer is placing his trust in a quarterback who arrived at Alabama as a five-star recruit, but has only thrown 50 passes over three seasons.
Simpson has not yet been named the starter, and there’s no need to make such a declaration too soon. The competition remains open with the inclusion of five-star freshman Keelon Russell, who is DeBoer’s first quarterback signing at Alabama, as well as Austin Mack, a backup who followed DeBoer from Washington.
Despite the competition, this job seems to be Simpson’s to lose.
Simpson has built the “relationships to get ready for this chance,” DeBoer said at the Senior Bowl, emphasizing that Simpson is ready to step up, not only as a leader but as the quarterback.
Deciding whether to trust returning players or seek a transfer quarterback is one of a coach’s most critical decisions in roster building. A misstep can derail a season.
For proof of this, look no further than Alabama’s rival, Auburn.
Will DeBoer’s Decision Prove Smarter Than Hugh Freeze’s Mistake at Auburn?
A year ago, Hugh Freeze opted not to pursue a transfer quarterback, believing that none was worth the financial cost. Instead, he stuck with Payton Thorne, a veteran with average credentials. This decision backfired, as Thorne’s turnovers contributed to Auburn’s fourth straight losing season.
Freeze revised his approach this offseason and secured Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold to replace Thorne. Arnold should find Auburn’s better wide receivers and veteran offensive line a more suitable fit than the underwhelming supporting cast that contributed to his struggles at Oklahoma.
Freeze, speaking at the Senior Bowl, referred to Arnold as “a natural fit” for Auburn’s needs.
In just a few months, Arnold went from being Oklahoma’s future quarterback to Auburn’s solution for its problems—highlighting how quickly college quarterbacks can change teams in today’s landscape.
In the days of Nick Saban’s early success, the approach was different: recruit quarterbacks every year, build depth, start the one who’d waited his turn, and develop others for the future.
Saban’s tenure saw only one transfer quarterback, Jake Coker, who spent a year as a backup after transferring from Florida State.
These were different times, under different transfer rules.
Transfer Quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff
Of the eight quarterbacks who started in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, five had transferred at some point in their careers.
In this fast-paced era where many teams embrace transfers, it’s hard to place full confidence in a quarterback like Simpson, who has been a backup for so long.
“I love this place,” Simpson told the Tuscaloosa News. “If I didn’t, I would have left, you know what I mean?”
Staying at a top-tier program instead of entering the transfer portal is perfectly respectable, but the question remains: why hasn’t Simpson cracked the starting lineup yet? And if he doesn’t this year, how long before Russell is ready to take over?
DeBoer’s honeymoon period at Alabama ended months ago, especially after the team’s loss to Vanderbilt and their bowl game defeat, which capped off their worst season since Saban’s 2007 debut. DeBoer has acknowledged the standard at Alabama is to make the playoffs, and he hasn’t attempted to spin this season as anything other than a disappointment.
The pressure on DeBoer in his second season is immense. Saban’s second year saw a 12-win campaign. DeBoer can’t afford to miss on this quarterback decision. If Simpson doesn’t lead Alabama back into national championship contention—because, let’s face it, that’s the standard both Simpson and DeBoer accepted by coming to Alabama—DeBoer will bear the blame.
Eleven of the twelve quarterbacks from playoff teams had become starters within their first three college seasons, with many doing so in their first two years. Some, like Will Howard from Ohio State, Riley Leonard from Notre Dame, and Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, transferred up to better programs and became starters there.
DeBoer’s commitment to Simpson reflects an older, more traditional approach to building a roster, but perhaps Carson Beck provides a useful example of what could happen. Beck spent three seasons as a backup at Georgia before emerging as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in 2023, leading Georgia to the playoffs, before an injury kept him out of postseason play.
Regardless of Beck’s struggles in 2024, if Simpson follows a similar path, it would validate DeBoer’s decision to trust a veteran backup. Conversely, if Simpson struggles, it will be clear that DeBoer made a mistake, much like Freeze did with Thorne at Auburn.
Blake Toppmeyer is a national college football columnist for USA TODAY Network. Reach him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all his columns.
