Paul Finebaum examines Alabama QB competition, concern in replacing Jalen Milroe

Alabama is looking for their next quarterback, as Jalen Milroe prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft. At the moment, it’s looking like a race between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.

With that in mind, Paul Finebaum joined SportsCenter to shed some light on the competition. He believes it’s essential for the Crimson Tide to find their quarterback and quick, as there’s a ton riding on this coming season for the program.

“I think the most interesting one is in Tuscaloosa,” Finebaum said, evaluation quarterback competitions around the nation on Saturday. “Alabama is trying to figure out who takes Jalen Milroe’s place. You know the history on Alabama quarterbacks in recent years. They’ve had [Tua] Tagovailoa. They’ve had Mac Jones. They’ve had Bryce Young. Last year they had Milroe. They’ve all been candidates for the Heisman. Right now, they don’t know.

“Ty Simpson has been around a couple of years. Austin Mack came over from Washington with the head coach Kalen DeBoer. The one everybody is excited about is Keelon Russell. He’s a brand new freshman. He’s a five-star. But the problem is we don’t know, and that’s not a good sign for Alabama.

“They had a tough season last year. They missed the Playoff. At Alabama, that’s time to call for the coach’s head, even though it was only his first year, and he beat the No. 1 team in the country at the time in Georgia. So, there’s a lot of angst in Tuscaloosa right now.”

All told, it won’t be easy to choose between the three talented signal-callers. But that’s why DeBoer makes the big bucks. As for the leader at the moment? ESPN’s Chris Low believes Simpson has the inside track.

“My take on (the Alabama) QB situation after being on campus: Ty Simpson best positioned to be starter, but has to go win it,” Low wrote on Twitter. “Hasn’t done it yet. Austin Mack is battling and has some real support among players. Keelon Russell most talented of the three, but a freshman. Legit race.”

If Mack has support, as Low suggests, Simpson better watch his “six,” since Mack is right on his tail. Perhaps the intriguing part of this is Russell making some noise, despite being a freshman for Alabama.

Time will tell if Ty Simpson can take over from Jalen Milroe, or if he loses his lead over the next couple of months. Regardless, expectations are high in Tuscaloosa, but that’s the status-quo for the Crimson Tide.