Nick Saban is “Rooting” for Ty Simpson This Season

NIL and the transfer portal are a rampant issue in college football. If a role player shows signs of promise, schools are lining up with the player's agent to poach top talent from big-name programs.

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Ty Simpson has had his fair share of flashes and almost certainly has had his fair share of opportunities outside of Alabama. And yet, the fourth-year quarterback stayed in Tuscaloosa and is currently in his second quarterback battle since arriving at Alabama.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban recruited Simpson to Alabama, and is still rooting for the former five-star prospect from Tennessee, even though Saban now watches from a suite and not the sideline.

"Ty was an outstanding high school player, no doubt," former Alabama head coach Nick Saban said on Tuesday during his Nick's Kids golf tournament in Birmingham. "He's a fine young man. I think his example is a true example of development. He matured and developed for [three] years, and now he's going to get the opportunity, and I think his experiences are really going to help him be successful."

"We're rooting for him, that's for sure, and I have every confidence that he'll do a great job."

Simpson was a member of Saban's Crimson Tide during Saban's final two years at Alabama, serving as the third-string quarterback in 2022 and the backup quarterback to Jalen Milroe in 2023.

Simpson is widely viewed as the "leader" in the Alabama quarterback race, at least according to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

"If we're playing a game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would be the starter. He's earned it," Grubb said.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.