The Alabama Crimson Tide hype is real heading into Kalen Deboer’s second season as head coach in Tuscaloosa. Now just five days away from opening day against the Florida State Seminoles, the Tide are gaining a lot of national attention as a championship caliber team and favorite to make it out of the toughest conference in college football.
The team officially announced that longtime back-up, first time starter Ty Simpson would be quarterbacking the team in 2025. This lead several analysts to buy low on the team coming off their first season with less than 10 wins since 2007.
One of those analysts is former NFL scout turned draft expert, Todd McShay. McShay has Alabama ranked sixth in his preseason power rankings and believes the team will experience the year two coaching bump that so many others have in the past.
During his breakdown, he set an seemingly “low” expectation for Simpson, comparing him to two-time National Champion Mac Jones.
When I talk to people who are in the know- who are around the facility, they don’t need Ty Simpson to be Joe Burrow in 2019,” McShay began on his podcast The McShay Show. They don’t even need him to be Tua Tagovailoa or Bryce Young.
Be Mac Jones,” he said deliberately. “You know what I mean? Efficient.”
He then went on to say that, while Jones had his limitations he was the beneficiary of great talent surrounding him.
While Mac Jones didn’t have the strongest arm, what he did a great job of with Henry Ruggs, and Jerry Jeudy, and Devonta Smith… and Jaylen Waddle..,” McShay continued. “What they were able to do is throw the ball down the field to take advantage of a strong run game, a big offensive line, all that stuff.”
‘Elite’ Talent Around Simpson
McShay might have a point. Devonta Smith was one of the best wide receivers to ever play college football, becoming the first wide receiver in 29 years to hoist the Heisman Trophy in 2020.
If there is anybody that has a shot to match his legacy in Tuscaloosa, its Ryan Williams. As a 17-year-old true freshman, Williams had nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. His highlight tape is up there with anyone in history, making mind bending catches look routine.
On the inside, slot receiver Germie Bernard, who came to Alabama with head coach Deboer from Washington, quietly recorded 50 catches for 794 yards his junior year. He returns with a chance to put his name on the long list of outstanding Alabama receivers.
Miami transfer Isaiah Horton might prove to be the difference maker for this Alabama receiving room. At six-foot-four, the University of Miami transfer had 56 catches for more than 600 yards and five touchdowns last season in South Beach. He will add a third receiving threat to a room that did not have one last season.
All together these three make up one of the most well equipped unit’s in the nation.
Remembering Mac Jones
Mac Jones does not get enough credit for his excellence at Alabama. In 2020, he stood alongside Devonta Smith as a Heisman Finalist in New York City. One week later the duo would go on to dismantle the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24.
Jones threw for 464 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
This capped off a 4,500 yard season from the senior in which he tossed an impressive 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He finished the year with an astonishing 77.4 completion percentage.
Safe to say if Ty Simpson can “just be Mac Jones“, I won’t complain.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson ‘Just Has To Be Mac Jones’, Expert Says