Why Jordan Rodgers predicts Ty Simpson will be Nick Saban's Alabama starter in 2023
NASHVILLE — Alabama football has yet to name a starting quarterback for 2023, but SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers has an idea on who he would have run Nick Saban's offense.
The answer: Ty Simpson.
Simpson is battling Jalen Milroe and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner to replace Bryce Young as the Crimson Tide's starter. Rodgers believes Simpson, a redshirt freshman, has the upper hand.
"Based on what I saw in Alabama's spring game this year makes me think Ty Simpson is going to start the year at quarterback," Rodgers told the USA TODAY Network on Monday at 2023 SEC Media Days. "I think from an arm strength and arm talent standpoint, Ty's got the edge over Jalen Milroe and Tyler Buchner. Alabama is going to need a need a guy that can just play point guard, limit mistakes and consistently distribute the football to the sheer number of talent around them."
Rodgers had said earlier Monday on the SEC Network show "SEC Now" that he favored Simpson, the former Westview High star from Jackson, Tennessee.
The quarterback scenario will be among the top questions asked of Saban when he takes the stage Wednesday. Rodgers believes the presence of Milroe and Buchner will push Simpson to develop into the quarterback the Crimson Tide need after they missed the College Football Playoff last season.
"This isn't a job that is going to be won Week 1 or Week 2. I think the competition will still continue to go on in practice throughout the first few weeks even while Simpson is at the helm," Rodgers said. "I think in a lot of Alabama's RPO stuff, you have to be able to change your arm angle and Bryce (Young) was the best at stepping to the side and flipping the ball out. I lean towards Ty right now but I think it's a very open competition."
Simpson played in four games last season, completing four passes for 35 yards. He was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season , throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns en route to winning the Class 2A state title.
The answer: Ty Simpson.
Simpson is battling Jalen Milroe and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner to replace Bryce Young as the Crimson Tide's starter. Rodgers believes Simpson, a redshirt freshman, has the upper hand.
"Based on what I saw in Alabama's spring game this year makes me think Ty Simpson is going to start the year at quarterback," Rodgers told the USA TODAY Network on Monday at 2023 SEC Media Days. "I think from an arm strength and arm talent standpoint, Ty's got the edge over Jalen Milroe and Tyler Buchner. Alabama is going to need a need a guy that can just play point guard, limit mistakes and consistently distribute the football to the sheer number of talent around them."
Rodgers had said earlier Monday on the SEC Network show "SEC Now" that he favored Simpson, the former Westview High star from Jackson, Tennessee.
The quarterback scenario will be among the top questions asked of Saban when he takes the stage Wednesday. Rodgers believes the presence of Milroe and Buchner will push Simpson to develop into the quarterback the Crimson Tide need after they missed the College Football Playoff last season.
"This isn't a job that is going to be won Week 1 or Week 2. I think the competition will still continue to go on in practice throughout the first few weeks even while Simpson is at the helm," Rodgers said. "I think in a lot of Alabama's RPO stuff, you have to be able to change your arm angle and Bryce (Young) was the best at stepping to the side and flipping the ball out. I lean towards Ty right now but I think it's a very open competition."
Simpson played in four games last season, completing four passes for 35 yards. He was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season , throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns en route to winning the Class 2A state title.
Players mentioned in this article
Jordan Rodgers
Jalen Milroe
Tyler Buchner
Bryce Young
Alex Simpson
Ty Simpson
Aaron Rodgers
A.J. Carty
Sam Seonbuchner
Bryce Alley
Recent Stories
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann — a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The former University of Wisconsin football ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any time laying out his expectations to “do ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference for the Longhorns, if you haven’t heard. ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing a memorandum of understanding that paves ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...