Kalen DeBoer declares Ty Simpson current starting quarterback if Alabama had to play right now

Alabama does not officially begin the 2025 season until Aug. 30, heading to Tallahassee for a nonconference showdown against Florida State. But if there was a game to be played this upcoming Saturday, Kalen DeBoer knows who would take the role of starting quarterback.

“If you had to play right now, go with the veteran in Ty (Simpson),” DeBoer said Wednesday on The Paul Finebaum Show. “Did a nice job this spring. As for the others, we just need to keep the competition going. They know that that’s their expectation because they know where they’re at right now isn’t good enough for where we need to be to have the success we want to have as a football team.”

Luckily for the “others” — Austin Mack and Keelon Russell — the season does not start Saturday. Summer workouts are primed to begin in Tuscaloosa before getting to fall camp. DeBoer admits the competition needs to continue, leaving the door open for one of Mack or Russell to take the job into their own hands.

Simpson was the primary backup to Jalen Milroe last season. However, he never saw the field for a real competitive snap. All six of his appearances came in mop-up duty with the game over, only attempting 25 passes for 167 yards.

Even so, DeBoer labels him as the veteran within the program. Yes, he has been with Alabama for four years now after being a five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. However, the lack of experience Mack and Russell possess plays a role as well. The latter is brand new to the college football world as a true freshman, while Mack finally has some stability for the first time in his career.

“We have the three guys and they’re all, really, at different spots in their careers,” DeBoer said. “Ty, having been in the program for a couple years. And then, Austin, really, getting to take his first meaningful reps in practice this spring. And Keelon joining as an early enrollee.”

Alabama will play 10 power conference opponents this season. A normal eight-game SEC schedule, plus Florida State and Wisconsin, before getting conference play underway. There will not be much time for DeBoer to get the quarterback situation sorted once games are underway. So, just over three months away from kickoff, he is going to rely on the guy with more experience than the other two options.