Ex-Alabama QB Makes Feelings Clear About Ty Simpson After Ryan Grubb’s Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 2:43 PM ET

As the start of the 2025 college football season draws nearer, Alabama Crimson Tide fans are itching to know who will be the team's starting quarterback.

Alabama alumni A.J. McCarron and Trent Richardson sat down with the host of "The Dynasty," Chris Stewart, to discuss the state of the program, Ty Simpson, Kalen DeBoer and more.

When asked by Stewart how the quarterback depth chart would shape up this season, McCarron made clear who he believes has the job secured.

“I think Ty is the guy," said McCarron. "I've been saying it from the beginning of the show. I think it's his job to lose, not only from an experience standpoint, but I think he has a ton of talent.

"I've worked with Ty, have trained with him in the past even when he was a young pup coming out of high school, so I think he has a ton of arm talent. He can make every throw on the field."

Last week, Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb stated Simpson would be the starter if the team played "right now."

“He is. He is right now,” Grubb said when asked by Ryan Fowler of "The Game with Ryan Fowler" on 100.9 FM if Simpson would be the starter now. “We don’t really deal in absolutes until we have to, but I was trying to answer that as honestly as I could."

Grubb is reuniting with DeBoer after one season spent in the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator. The pair has coached together at several schools over the years, including Washington, Fresno State, Eastern Michigan and Sioux Falls.

McCarron, who played quarterback at Alabama from 2009 to 2013, chose and advocated for Simpson over Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.

Mack joined the Crimson Tide ahead of the 2024 season as a transfer from the Washington Huskies. He followed DeBoer, who was the Huskies' head coach in 2022 and 2023. Mack redshirted in 2023 at Washington and was limited to mop-up duty in 2024 at Alabama.

Russell is a true freshman and former five-star recruit. On3 ranked him as the No. 2 player in the country last season, the second-best quarterback and the top player out of Texas. He chose Alabama over offers from SMU, Ole Miss, Florida, TCU and several other top schools.

Alabama will begin its 2025 season on the road against Florida State on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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