Alabama Quarterback Ty Simpson to declare for the NFL draft

January 7, 2025 – TUSCALOOSA – University of Alabama starting Quarterback Ty Simpson announced that he will declare for the NFL draft. The decision comes after a week of speculation about Simpson's future.

There was a possibility that the redshirt junior could return for another season at Alabama. Simpson reportedly met with Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer over the weekend about the possibility of him returning for another year in Tuscaloosa. It is not known what their position would have been, because if the Tide had committed to Simpson then they likely would lose one or both of the other two Tide quarterbacks through the transfer portal.

There was also a possibility that Simpson could opt out of finishing his college career and transferring to another school. Texas Tech just signed Brendan Sorsby, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 transfer portal, formerly the starter at Cincinnati. Texas Tech, according to some sources, paid $5 million, resetting the market for what college quarterbacks can make. Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders made just $1,005,000 in base pay this plus a $467,380 signing bonus. Tennessee was reportedly interested in Simpson's services. Simpson's father has confirmed to ESPN that he did have college suitors had he decided to transfer. Ultimately, Simpson decided that Alabama would be the only college he would play for in his career and elected to go to the NFL.

The top quarterback in this year's NFL draft are Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza – the starter at Indiana. Number two is probably Oregon starter Dante Moore. Most draft boards have Simpson as the number 3 quarterback prospect in the draft, ahead of Oklahoma's John Mateer, Penn State's Drew Allar, and LSU's Garret Nussmeier. Given that the Los Vegas Raiders and New York Jets will almost certainly take quarterbacks with the first and second picks, that means Simpson could go as high as three to the Arizona Cardinals. The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants at four and five took quarterbacks last year so likely would take Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs, or trade out of the pick.

Keelon Russell is Alabama's highly touted freshman quarterback - a former five‑star recruit from Duncanville, Texas - who spent the 2025 season backing up Ty Simpson but is widely viewed as the Crimson Tide's future starter. He has publicly committed to staying at Alabama and is expected to compete for the QB1 job now that Simpson has declared for the NFL Draft.

It is unlikely that Alabama will go into the transfer portal for its next quarterback assuming both Austin Mack and Keelon Russel stay in Tuscaloosa.

Keelon Russell is Alabama's highly touted freshman quarterback - a former five‑star recruit from Duncanville, Texas - who spent the 2025 season backing up Ty Simpson but is widely viewed as the Crimson Tide's future starter. He has publicly committed to staying at Alabama and is expected to compete for the QB1 job now that Simpson has declared for the NFL Draft.

Keelon Russell is a 5‑star quarterback in the 2025 class originally from Duncanville, Texas. He was ranked at the number 2 quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft class nationally by 247Sports. He was the 2024 Gatorade National Player of the Year in high school. At Duncanville High School he completed 72% of his passes for 3,483 yards and 38 TDs as a junior. He led Duncanville to back‑to‑back 6A Division I state titles. At Alabama he spent his freshman year behind Ty Simpson and Austin Mack. When he did get in games, he had 11 completions in 15 passing attempts for 143 yards, and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He will be a sophomore in 2026, but he can take a redshirt for 2025 and still have four years of eligibility. Given his pedigree, athleticism, and early flashes, Russell is widely viewed as the long‑term QB1 in Tuscaloosa.

If he has trouble mastering Ryan Grubb's offense, Alabama has an experienced second option in Austin Mack, who backed up Simpson this year. Austin Mack a redshirt‑sophomore quarterback. He took over in the Rose Bowl after Simpson fractured a rib and led Alabama on their only scoring drive in the game.

Mack is 6'6", 235 pounds from Folsom, California. He was a four‑star recruit, ranked as the number 16 quarterback in the 2023 class. He was recruited by DeBoer to go to Washington and came with DeBoer to Alabama. At Alabama he has played in 48 total snaps through 2025, had 24 completions in 32 pass attempts for 228 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

This is shaping up to be one of the SEC's most interesting QB battles.

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