DeBoer praises Alabama backup QBs for 'the work they're putting in'

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe had a huge game at LSU, rushing for a career-high 185 yards and four touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s decisive 42-13 win.

But Milroe’s standout performance allowed backup quarterback Ty Simpson to get in the game in the fourth quarter and play 10 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Simpson didn’t attempt a pass but he led a late scoring drive to give Alabama a 42-6 lead on the board.

The No. 9 Crimson Tide will next face Mercer on Saturday, Nov. 16, and there is a chance that not only will Simpson appear in his fifth game of the 2024-25 season but one of Alabama’s other reserve quarterbacks might also get some playing time late against the Bears.

Dylan Lonergan has appeared in one game this fall, playing in the Tide’s season-opening win over Western Kentucky, while Washington transfer Austin Mack has yet to see the field. Monday of an FCS game week, head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke highly of the backups.

“The work they’re putting in,” DeBoer said. “I guess yesterday … walking outside for a second and seeing one of the guys out there throwing at 9 a.m. in the morning, doing his thing. Others just really paying attention in the meetings, and coming up and meeting individually with Mitch Dahlen, with our offensive staff, Coach Sheridan, myself. 

“Just a lot of opportunities that they’re all taking advantage of to help their growth. And then when they get on the football field, you see familiarity with the offense, especially those – Austin had a little bit more familiarity – but then you also see growth in fundamental things.”

Simpson has played in four games this fall, throwing for 96 yards on 9-of-14 passing. He has also rushed for 30 yards and one touchdown on six carries. Lonergan, in his lone appearance, had a 16-yard run. With Milroe being the starter, the reserve quarterbacks don’t fill up the stat sheet, but they are still making an impact, oftentimes well before Saturday.

DeBoer commended Mack for his efforts on Alabama’s scout team ahead of the game against LSU, as the latter emulated Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier before the must-win contest. With practices closed to reporters during the regular season, we don’t get to see how the Tide backups are progressing, but DeBoer spoke highly of all their development.

“You see the throws, the accuracy of the throws,” DeBoer said. “Just taking advantage of every rep. These guys are doing that. 

“This season isn’t something that’s just about Jalen and, ‘Oh, I hope I get my time.’ They’re pressing forward and using the resources we have, and then also putting forth the effort to improve any time they can.”

Alabama has an inexperienced but talented quarterback room beyond Milroe. But when asked about the commonalities in his position room, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan pointed to the intangibles the Tide quarterbacks have that have impressed him the last 10 months.

“I think character, who they are as people,” Sheridan said. “They have great families. Their parents have raised them the right way. I think they’re mentally tough. 

“So those would be commonalities amongst all of those guys and I think at this level that would be pretty standard across the highest level of football is guys that have great character, are built the right way and are mentally tough.”

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