Why Kalen DeBoer Is Letting Alabama’s QB Battle Simmer

Nick Saban famously compared Alabama's quarterback battle in 2023 to a cake baking in an oven. If you take the cake out too soon, it won't be ready. That season, Alabama did not name a starting quarterback until six days before the first game of the season.

Get our free mobile app

While Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer didn't draw the same comparison, it sounds like the Alabama quarterback cake won't be ready until well into fall camp.

Ty Simpson might be the frontrunner, according to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in April, but head coach Kalen DeBoer wants to see the competition continue with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell competing with Simpson to be the top signal caller.

Speaking at the Regions Golf Tournament on Wednesday, DeBoer said, "The competition always continues."

"That's this year. That's any year," he said. "I think the biggest thing for them, the message is that they all got to keep it better. For us to accomplish what we want to, we want to do as a team, and of course, being quarterback-driven in a lot of ways - personnel driven too - but the quarterback position needs to keep progressing. So this summer, fall camp, they all got to keep getting better."

"And that's their mindset. They're great kids, and they understand that and they have high goals for themselves, individually and also our whole team."

Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron was asked about his thoughts on the Crimson Tide quarterback battle at the golf tournament on Wednesday.

"It's Ty's job to lose," McCarron said.

"He's been there," he continued. "He's put in the work. Players respect him. And he's talented. He's a great kid, and I wish him nothing but the best."

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_.