The hype surrounding Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama is electric as the Crimson Tide dive into year two under his guidance. Following a bumpy 9-4 debut season—the lowest in 17 years for Alabama—there are sky-high expectations for a turnaround. This off-season, there is a feeling of fresh focus and business left to attend to. DeBoer has settled in, taken a step back, and tweaked his game plan, which wasn’t an option in last year’s mad dash transition. Alabama feels pressure to get the 2025 schedule right away because they face power programs in Florida State, Wisconsin, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Quarterback competitions are ramping up, and DeBoer just announced Ty Simpson would be the man at quarterback if today was the opening day. The atmosphere surrounding the program is one of guarded optimism, with coaches and players believing in DeBoer’s plan. And the icing on the cake: Ryan Grubb is in Tuscaloosa. After a brief stint as offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.

In the most recent Crain and Company episode on May 22nd, the hosts could not remain calm. “I got a lot of respect for Kalen DeBoer, and now Ryan Grubb is back, Robin is back to help Batman.” Now, not just because he’s reuniting with Kalen DeBoer again, but also due to that neat $1 million-a-year deal he just signed. The Alabama Board of Trustees approved a two-year contract with Grubb, among the highest-paid assistants on the roster. “Some people say that Ryan Grubb deep down really is Batman, but Kalen DeBoer is the head coach,” says Jack Crain.

“It’s always crazy for me to hear, after a guy who comes in behind Nick Saban, that he has to get the right personnel in there.” This program has been the gold standard of college football for over a decade! Saban recruited at a level that nobody else could touch; it seemed like every five-star kid in America wanted to don that crimson jersey. But if you look beneath the surface, it makes a lot of sense.

Every coach has their style, their system, and their vision of what kind of players are going to fit best. Saban’s teams were built around suffocating defense, pro-style offense, and a certain old-school toughness. Kalen DeBoer, by contrast, wants to air it out and play with tempo—he’s an offensive innovator. That means he needs different kinds of quarterbacks, receivers, and linemen than Saban did.

Ty Simpson is ready to start tomorrow

After Ryan Grubb grasped the reins of Alabama’s defense, DeBoer’s latest report on Ty Simpson shows the extent to which things are evolving in Tuscaloosa. After a year of riding Saban’s roster and all the fanfare of a subpar season, DeBoer has yet to name a starter, but all signs point to Ty Simpson being ‘the guy’ at least temporarily. Returning offensive coordinator Grubb flat-out said, “At the end of the day, if we’re playing a football game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would start.” That’s a big deal.

Simpson had the experience advantage, and he’s been the most consistent arm during spring practice. Sure, he’s had some off-target throws—some overthrow tries and the occasional growing pains—but he’s also had some glimpses with a beautiful 50-yard touchdown and some cross-body throws that leave you wondering. DeBoer’s not giving out jobs for the spring highlight. He’s a consistency and development coach. In his interview with Greg McElroy, he outlined how he’s splitting up reps among all three QBs—Simpson, Keelon Russell, and Austin Mack—and observing to see who can move the ball most consistently with the first and second units.

DeBoer’s hoping to name a starter by the end of the “bonus practices” of the first week so that the QB winner can truly get in sync with the receivers and cement those first-team reps. Makes sense—chemistry is important, especially with a new playbook and a new OC in Grubb. Ty Simpson is the favorite, but DeBoer’s not going to hurry it. He’s making sure the job winner is ready to play, not just fill the spot. Alabama fans have every right to be hopeful—this is the first time in years the Tide will have a legitimate, handpicked QB at the controls.