The Alabama Crimson Tide obtained some main information after their disappointing bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines on Tuesday, as quarterback Jalen Milroe introduced his intentions to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
Milroe, a redshirt junior, had been Alabama’s beginning quarterback over the previous two seasons, main the Crimson Tide to a School Soccer Playoff berth in 2023 earlier than narrowly lacking out in 2024.
Whereas it was extra of a down 12 months statistically for Milroe, who threw 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, the quarterback offered a degree of stability on the place for the Crimson Tide.
Now, they’ve a serious query to reply at crucial place in soccer: who will likely be their beginning quarterback in 2025? Let’s break down the choices.
Ty Simpson
Ty Simpson elected to return to this system this previous season to again up Milroe as soon as once more, and the redshirt sophomore could possibly be seen as the favourite to win the beginning job, as he’s probably the most skilled participant within the room.
Whereas he hasn’t essentially proven a lot on the sphere over his few seasons at Alabama, trying solely 50 passes over the previous three years, Simpson is a former five-star recruit who now leads a room that has three scholarship quarterbacks.
Austin Mack
A four-star recruit within the Class of 2024, Mack got here with head coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama, and will earn a shot on the beginning gig as nicely.
Being solely a freshman, Mack is behind Simpson in expertise, whereas the Crimson Tide are bringing in a five-star quarterback within the 2025 class. So, it looks like an uphill battle in the meanwhile for the 2024 four-star, however the competitors ought to be an open one heading into subsequent season.
Keelon Russell
That leaves us with the youngest and most tantalizing participant of the trio: 2025 five-star quarterback Keelon Russell, who was ranked because the No. 2 signal-caller within the class.
Russell, a multi-year starter at Texas powerhouse Duncanville, is seen as the way forward for the Crimson Tide, and has an enormous alternative to return in and compete for the beginning job, which he believes is the expectation, whilst a real freshman.
“With Jalen Milroe leaving, it opens up a whole lot of alternatives for me,” Russell shared on the Underneath Armour All-American Sport this week. “Clearly, I received’t should be behind any individual for actual and watch him take over a bit of bit as a substitute of simply stepping into there and attempting to win the beginning place. Both manner, I’m gonna nonetheless have that mindset.
“However truthfully, you have got a beginning quarterback that begins the entire 12 months [in Milroe]. You’re gonna get him the taking part in time he wants and as a senior, you’re gonna give him that final probability to showcase his years as a result of he’s gonna go to the draft. So I imply, [with him leaving instead of coming back for his senior season], it opens up a whole lot of alternatives for me. . .On the finish of the day, I’m simply able to ball, to be sincere.”
Now, being probably the most intriguing candidate to win the job and truly successful the job are two various things, and Russell is a competitor who understands the method.
“If I don’t win [the starting job], I’m not [going to be] no child about it. I received’t cry. I received’t assume that it’s the world over for me. I’m aggressive. You’ve seen Jalen Milroe get his job taken. To not level that out, however you’ve seen Jalen Milroe get his job taken years in the past. So it’s at all times gonna be one thing that’s gonna occur. . .I simply really feel like I’m stepping into there to compete, and finest comes out of it.”
However, the five-star quarterback goes in with the mindset that he expects to win that beginning quarterback place, which might be a serious change for Alabama.
“I really feel like I’m a quarterback that doesn’t actually resolve round strain. I’m extra of a assured quarterback. I wish to go compete, and that’s what it’s. If I am going compete, I’m [going to] win the beginning place.”
The Crimson Tide have a serious choice forward of them in 2025, because it doesn’t appear to be they’ll go to the switch portal.
They’ve invested so much into their five-star quarterback, who presently stands round 6’4, 185 kilos, which suggests the offense would probably change to help Russell.
However, the incoming freshman has a ton of expertise, which can probably be on show as he competes for the beginning job beginning within the spring.
