Now that Alabama has decided on Ty Simpson as its starting quarterback, what other things should fans be looking for in the second scrimmage of the season, which will take place Saturday?
One of the things fans may be looking for is how Simpson will react now that he is named the team’s starting QB.
Will he be comfortable in his new role? It sounds like even before he was named the starter that his confidence was high and he had already won over his teammates.
But the main thing fans may be looking for is the reactions of backup QBs Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. The fight for a backup slot on the team is still up for grabs, and you have to wonder who will win out.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum seems to think that if Russell does not play this year, he will transfer at the end of the season, he said on his talk show.
“100%,” Finebaum said. “That’s an easy one to answer.”
All indications are that Russell is the future for Alabama, and that’s why he signed wth the team. There has been no reason to believe otherwise.
If the schedule plays out as many think, Russell and Mack will have plenty of opportunities to play this season. Many thought last year when Jalen Milroe was allowed to keep his starting quarterback position that Simpson, too, would transfer, but he waited his turn, and now it’s paid off.
If Simpson turns pro after this year, you will see both Mack and Russell battle for the starting role in the spring, and the loser of that competition may transfer. But Kalen DeBoer and his staff were able to keep his team intact when the transfer portal opened this year, and how much NIL money Russell could get may be the determining factor if he does decide to leave Tuscaloosa in the future.
For now, however, there haven’t been any rumblings from either QB about leaving the team.