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Would Kalen DeBoer consider playing two quarterbacks in 2025?

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby:Charlie Potter•04/17/25•

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Alabama QBs
Keelon Russell, Ty Simpson and Austin Mack (Courtesy of Alabama Athletics)

Alabama will have a new starting quarterback this fall with Jalen Milroe entering the 2025 NFL Draft. First-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said redshirt junior Ty Simpson would start if the Crimson Tide played in a game tomorrow, but the position battle remains open.

Alabama still has three scholarship quarterbacks on its roster following spring camp, and head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about Simpson and true freshman Keelon Russell, a former Five-Star Plus+ recruit, earlier this week in Tuscaloosa. But what about Austin Mack, a redshirt sophomore who followed DeBoer and company from Washington to Alabama?

Before speaking at the annual Team Focus fundraiser in Mobile on Thursday evening, DeBoer was asked about his message to Mack and the plan for his development over the summer.

“Just keep pushing, keep pressing,” DeBoer said, per AL.com. “All three quarterbacks need to continue to get better here this summer. And Austin will be exactly that. He knows that, and he’s gonna do that until the last day he steps on the football field because that’s just who he is. 

“He’s one of the hardest workers on the football team. I don’t ever have to question whether that’s gonna happen. He’s got extreme arm talent. 

“He, along with those other guys in that room, I know, are gonna have a great, competitive and healthy summer of working together, but also competing for that spot.”

Simpson is the frontrunner for Alabama’s starting job behind center after 15 spring practices. It isn’t a huge surprise, given Simpson is the most experienced quarterback on the roster and was consistent throughout spring ball. But the Tide also doesn’t play a game tomorrow.

Alabama’s 2025 season opener is more than four months away, giving Mack and Russell time to close the gap on Simpson. When the Crimson Tide faces Florida State in Tallahassee on August 30, could we see two UA quarterbacks on the field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium?

On Thursday, DeBoer was asked if he would mind playing two quarterbacks in a game this fall.

“I think it’s a lot easier to just have one out there, be in a rhythm,” DeBoer said. “There’s been times where I’ve started seasons doing that, and we’ve gotten through it. I can think of two or three in particular where you went four or five games. But that’s not really our mindset right now. I think when we get to the fall, we want to be settled in, and I think that helps just all around with leadership. 

“But you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. I just think all three quarterbacks we have are all very similar. Maybe if you had one that was completely different than the others, you’d have packages and so forth, but I don’t think that’s the case for us.”

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