For months, Alabama fans have been wondering who would be the team’s starting quarterback this year. They spent the offseason wondering if it would be Austin Mack’s big arm or Keelon Russell’s five-star flash taking the first snap in 2025. This week, head coach Kalen DeBoer finally gave the answer. Turns out, the choice went in a different direction as the Crimson Tide’s QB1 for 2025 will be Ty Simpson.

The former five-star prospect has spent the past three years quietly putting in the work in Alabama, learning the system, and waiting for his shot. Now, with the starting role finally his, it’s as much a reward for his patience as it is a clear sign of the kind of steady, prepared quarterback DeBoer envisions at the heart of his offense. But while Tide Nation celebrates, there was also a classy gesture from the other side of the QB battle, one that showed just how much respect exists inside Alabama’s locker room.

Soon after DeBoer announced Simpson as the starting quarterback, Russell’s mom shared a short and gracious message on X. “Well deserved, Roll Tide.” Those four words carry nothing but a sign of respect for Simpson, even after he beat her son to become Alabama’s starting QB. However, it was definitely a hard pill to swallow for her since Russell is her son, and he fell behind in the race.

Keelon has a very close bond with his mother. Back in May, he gave fans a glimpse of the kind of son he is off the field when he surprised his mom with a brand-new Mercedes. It was definitely a heartfelt thank-you gesture towards his mother for her years of sacrifice and unwavering support through every high and low of his football journey.

Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, weighing around 190 pounds, Keelon Russell arrived in Tuscaloosa after dominating at Duncanville High School in Texas. In his junior season alone, he threw for 3,267 yards and 35 touchdowns, while throwing just three interceptions. As a senior, the honors stacked up. He threw for 4,177 yards and 55 touchdowns with only four interceptions, added 321 rushing yards and three more scores, and capped it all by winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year award and Elite 11 Finals.

But college football has this funny way of humbling even the most gifted players. No matter how strong your arm is or how polished your resume looks, there’s never a guarantee the job will be yours. There’s always that one teammate who sneaks up and suddenly finds himself in the driver’s seat. For Russell, that guy was Simpson. And it’s a reminder that in Tuscaloosa, it can take just one moment to flip you from watching the huddle to owning it.

Ty Simpson’s preseason confidence meets the reality of the starting job

Simpson, a former five-star recruit and the No. 2 quarterback in the 2022 class, saw action in six games last season. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 167 yards and ran for 44 yards with a touchdown. Now, he’ll lead the Tide into a tough SEC schedule, knowing the competition in the quarterback room will keep him sharp all year.

What stands out about Simpson is the quiet confidence he’s carried all along. Back in June, during his time at the Manning Passing Academy, he spoke with conviction about the qualities he brings to the table. “I feel like I’m gonna be tough, I’m gonna be accurate, I’m gonna make sure that we give our offense the best chance to win in any situation. I feel like I’ve waited my turn.”

He went on to credit his football upbringing and the lessons he’s absorbed from watching others, “And I’ve learned a lot from those guys, and I understand with my dad being a coach, I’ve got a mind for football. I’m just excited to be able to play for the university I love, in front of the people that love and with the people I love,” he said.

Now, all eyes will be on Ty Simpson. From this point on, the way he commands the huddle and handles big moments will define how far he goes. But if the way he’s waited his turn, put in the work, and carried himself with quiet confidence is anything to go by, this might just be the beginning of a special chapter in Alabama’s quarterback story. But only time will tell what the reality is.