Every spring in Tuscaloosa brings the same old tune: Who’s the next quarterback? This time, though, the song feels different. The names on the table—Ty Simpson, Keelon Russell, and Austin Mack—each bring their own flavor. But people will agree that Mack has been out of the running mostly. While the hope is supposed to rest on Simpson and Russell’s capable shoulders now, one is clearly outdoing the other. Just last month, Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb made things crystal clear: “If we’re playing a football game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would start.” But fans? Annoyed and irked.

Now, let’s not act like Ty Simpson is some walk-on. He was the No. 1 quarterback in the country according to On3, and 21st nationally when he committed to Alabama in February 2021. With five-star credentials, and big-arm potential, he was the type of athleticism that got scouts whispering. But when we come to the ‘what-have-you-done-lately’ conversation, that past hype is fading fast. What fans remember is a soggy, uninspiring win over South Florida and that infamous 79-yard run against Chattanooga, where Simpson dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line. You don’t get second chances in Tuscaloosa for mistakes like that—not without proving something special afterward.

Even USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer doubled down on the sentiment in January this year, saying, “If Simpson possesses top-tier SEC quarterback abilities, why did he spend the past three seasons on Alabama’s bench? Simpson’s lone start against South Florida in 2023 didn’t inspire confidence.” Simpson’s defense? “I’m glad that happened. I’m glad I failed…I probably wasn’t ready as much as I wanted to be,” and that he shouldn’t have tried to make a statement on who should’ve been a starter. But Roll Tide isn’t convinced, and Locked On Bama’s Luke Robinson expertly explained exactly why.

On May 1, the host sat down with Jimmy Stein, where Robinson recalled a conversation with Locked on College Football host Spencer McLaughlin, where the latter reportedly said, “He’s like, ‘Ty Simpson…[I] just don’t know much’. So, [he] doesn’t know much about him…because there’s not a lot out there. And he was like, ‘I get the sentiment that fans aren’t super fired up about him’.”

“The only thing we’ve got to see him do, really, was play some snaps against South Florida…That came directly after the Texas loss…Then we play…against South Florida and we end up winning like 17-3…it wasn’t pretty. It was just the ugliest game you’ve ever seen….I said ‘You either remember him from that game or you remember that he took off for about an 80-yard run…and he does…unquestionably the dumbest thing that you can do in football…[dropping] the ball before you cross the goal line.’ And I said, ‘Those are the things people remember’,” he further noted before adding:

“And I said, ‘Nobody’s thinking…maybe he’s gotten better since then. Or maybe the team has accepted him more since South Florida. Maybe the attitude is better with the team. Maybe he’s got a better coach now. It’s just funny that everybody, including me…we’ve been really high on Keelon Russell and to some degree, Austin Mack. But we don’t know what the heck they’re going to do when the lights come on. So we’re almost like, ‘We’d rather see the devil we don’t know versus the devil we do.’ And frankly, the devil we think we do know, we don’t know very well.”

And so far, the team’s A-Day open practice seems to be corroborating with Robinson’s hypothesis. Simpson surprisingly (mostly for fans) took most of the reps, and was the only signal caller to not throw an interception as opposed to Mack’s two, and Russell’s one. He also pulled off a 35-yard touchdown pass to defensive back-turned-receiver Jaylen Mbakwe, another lateral pass to Germie Bernard, who connected with Isiah Horton, with the latter clinching a deep-ball touchdown despite two defenders.

The 22-year-old evidently upped his consistency as time passed, after starting 2-for-4 from the 45-yard line. Then, on medium throws, he went 4-for-4, but still made a few inaccurate throws. Yet, the general consensus is: Ty Simpson was the better one of the QB room But, of course, that’s not the deciding factor. Because…

Cue Keelon Russell.

The reality behind Ty Simpson and Keelon Russell’s situation

Keelon Russell isn’t just another name in the QB mix—he is that guy. Ranked No. 2 in the 2025 class behind only Bryce Underwood, Russell pulled up to Tuscaloosa with fireworks in his backpack. Five-star swagger, laser arm, and charisma you can’t coach. Naturally, fans are literally hyped. It’s the shiny new toy syndrome.

Jimmy Stein broke it down. “The reason that Spencer and other national guys are sort of down on Ty is basically recency effect,” he said. “Everyone knows Keelon Russell’s a five-star, or kind of a superstar-type prospect.” And in today’s world? Five-star QBs walk in with built-in fandom. But here’s the irony—Ty was that 5-star too. “People forget,” Stein added. “Ty Simpson was also a five-star. As a matter of fact, On3 Industry ranking had Ty Simpson as the number one quarterback in the country. People don’t remember that because it was 4 recruiting cycles ago.” Feels like a different era, back when Saban was running the show and Milroe hadn’t thrown a college pass yet. Now? The memories have faded, and the glow’s gone.

Still, this isn’t just hype-vs-hype. There are layers. Keelon Russell might be the future, but Ty’s still standing in the present. And while Ty isn’t flashy, the staff likes him. He knows the system; he’s not afraid to tuck it and run, and despite the chatter, he hasn’t folded. Plus, the staff isn’t just handing this to anyone. Kalen DeBoer said it straight—everyone’s rotating. They’re not just naming a starter for hype’s sake. They want the best fit. And right now, Ty holds the edge because he’s been there, repped the program, and survived the lows. But here’s the wild card: Bama fans are impatient. They want fireworks, not field goals. And if Ty comes out slow in Week 1, best believe the crowd’s going to chant for Russell. Loudly.

So it’s a classic setup—safe vs. crazy. Familiar vs. flashy. Ty vs. Keelon. Either way, Alabama is in a decent spot. “Either Ty’s going to be good,” Stein said, “or we’re going to get to see Keelon. And aren’t both of those things exciting?” Can’t argue that. Still, DeBoer’s clock is ticking. If Ty doesn’t silence the noise early, that leash is going to be short. Keelon’s waiting, five stars and all. And Bama Nation? They’re watching. Not with anger. Not even frustration. Just that quiet silence that says, “Show me something.”