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The Tuscaloosa News
'That'll be my job': Ty Simpson ready to be Alabama football's starting quarterback
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- 'That'll be my job': Ty Simpson ready to be Alabama football's starting quarterback
Ty Simpson feels like a different player than he's as been as the Alabama football 2024 season nears its end.
In an interview with the Crimson Tide Sports Network before the Oklahoma game, the Crimson Tide backup quarterback talked about his redshirt sophomore season and what his experience behind Jalen Milroe has been like.
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It was growth Simpson said he felt during his two drives of work in Alabama 's 52-7 win against Mercer Nov. 16.
"I feel like I've grown a lot more," Simpson sad. "And so just being able to take those two drives and just kind of play free, just kind of play ball, it felt really good. Felt like I was back in high school. Got a lot of confidence back underneath me and I'm just excited to get more chances."
Signing with Alabama in the same recruiting class as players such as Tyler Booker , Jihaad Campbell , Kendrick Law and Jam Miller , Simpson said he is still expected to be a leader whose voice is "just as heard as much as theirs.
"Certainly, especially since coming back," said Simpson, who was the No. 26 player in the 2022 class and No. 3 overall quarterback. "In this day and age, a lot of people would have probably left, especially with the circumstances that I had."
Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) rolls out and throws with Mercer defensive lineman Andrew Zock (94) pressuring him at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Mercer 52-7. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
After the Georgia win, Simpson said Alabama "kind of hit a hump, kind of got humbled a little bit" against Vanderbilt, admitting some vulnerabilities Tennessee also took advantage of. But he also said it's the reason behind Kalen DeBoer's "1-0" mentality.
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In six games, Simpson has 14 completions on 25 pass attempts for 167 yards. He has not thrown a collegiate touchdown. He has three career rushing touchdowns, one of which came against Western Kentucky in the season opener.
Simpson is ready to take that next step.
"My job is for the offense not to skip a beat," Simpson said, "in case something happens to Jalen. Whether it's in practice or in the warmups or anything like that, knowing that the guys have confidence in me that, 'OK, Jalen is out. We're gonna go down and win the game no matter what, even if Ty's in.'
"So that's my job as the backup quarterback. And hopefully next year, that'll be my job, to be the guy and know that the next guy is ready."
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Ty Simpson wants Kalen DeBoer's job with Alabama football
Coming from a coach's family, with his father Jason Simpson leading University of Tennessee Martin, Ty Simpson said he wants to be a head coach in college football after his playing days are done.
And he knows specifically which one he wants, something he told DeBoer in his first meeting.
"I think that is what I want to do," Simpson said. "I told coach DeBoer in his first meeting. I was like, "You're the successor of coach (Nick) Saban. Now I want to be the successor of you. When you retire here and you have a great career like coach Saban had, I want to be done with my NFL career and take your job.' And he started laughing and was like, 'We'll try and make that happen.'"
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Alabama takes on Auburn at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ty Simpson ready to be Alabama football's starting quarterback
