Early forecasts regarding the Alabama quarterback competition: Will Keelon Russell be selected?
Start your quarterbacks, gentlemen.
The competition for Alabama football’s starting position in 2025 is about to start.?
There are currently three candidates. There have been two on campus already. This week, one arrived. And now, Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell will compete to determine who can fill the void left by Jalen Milroe’s NFL Draft departure.
Let’s examine each candidate in more detail, without regard to order.
Austin Mack is a contender.
Year: sophomore redshirt
Measurables: 236 pounds, 6-6
Mack is thought to have long-term potential, despite being the fourth quarterback on the depth chart this season, behind Milroe, Simpson, and Dylan Lonergan. He transferred to Tuscaloosa to play for DeBoer after spending a year at Washington. He will be in his third season with DeBoer. But Mack is young. When he redshirted in 2023, he was expected to be a senior in high school. Mack is renowned for his diligence, which includes his significant contribution to LSU preparation.
Participant: Keelon Russell
Year: First-year student
Measurables: 175 pounds, 6-3
During the process, he rose in the recruiting rankings and moved from being committed to SMU to signing with Alabama. According to the 247Sports Composite, Russell, whose main recruiter was offensive coach Nick Sheridan, advanced to the No. 2 prospect overall in the 2025 recruiting rankings.
In 2024, Russell passed for over 3,000 yards and over 50 touchdowns, earning him the title of Gatorade Player of the Year. Additionally, he participated in Duncanville’s consecutive state titles in 2022 and 2023.
In a nutshell, he is a successful athlete and passer.
Ty Simpson is a contender.
Year: Junior Redshirt
Measurables: 215 pounds, 6-2
When Simpson fought with Tyler Buchner and Milroe to succeed Bryce Young two years ago, he lost the position. However, at that time, Simpson was just starting his sophomore year of college football.
He has now played in three seasons. Additionally, there is a lot of intrigue from the former five-star quarterback. Simpson, a coach’s son, is capable of making any throw. No one can run like Milroe, including him. But Simpson can make plays with his legs.
Predictions for the Alabama quarterback competition in advance
How does this unfold, then?
Simpson currently holds the top spot before Alabama has completed spring workouts and fall camp. It won’t be given to him; he will have to earn it. However, it is believed that he is capable.
Being the most seasoned, Simpson’s year in DeBoer’s system is significant. It actually offers him an advantage. Take a look at previous DeBoer quarterbacks who were in their second year of play: In his sophomore year at Washington, Michael Penix Jr. finished second in the 2023 Heisman Trophy. Jake Haener increased his first-year stats at Fresno State from 2,021 yards and 14 touchdowns to 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns in his second year. Even though Fresno State only played six games in the first season because to COVID-19, Haener still made a leap.
In his first season under the DeBoer system, Simpson did not start, but he was practicing and playing some games while learning the playbook and play calls. Therefore, a second season in the system can still result in a successful year.
The question is whether Simpson’s experience—more especially, system experience—can be overcome in any way by Russell’s natural talent. True freshmen don’t exactly start at quarterback every day for a program like Alabama, but it’s not impossible. even one with Russell’s level of talent. Although his future is extremely bright, leading an offense right now as a true freshman is still no easy feat. Don’t fully rule it out. Don’t count on it occurring, though.
We’ll give Simpson the advantage in this early projection because of all those factors.
Mack might begin at some time throughout his career, but it might be too soon. With less than eight months until the 2025 season, he most likely has the best chance of getting the starting position.
