COMMIT: 5-Star Quarterback Picks Alabama

With Steve Sarkisian moving on to Texas, several crootin “experts” thought Alabama’s ship was sunk when it came to recruiting Ty Simpson. But to quote Blake Brockermeyer: “People think position coaches and area coaches are critical and all this and that. Winning, program consistency and development is all that matters to those with great options. We love (Kyle) Flood and (Karl) Scott, but the equipment manager could have recruited us as long as Saban is there.”

And thus, Alabama has another 5-string quarterback commitment.

Simpson grew up around college football. With his dad, Jason Simpson, being the longtime head coach at Tennessee-Martin, Ty had constant access to the Skyhawks program and often joined in on certain warm-ups and drills.

247Sports scouting report: “Exciting dual-threat quarterback who’s one of the best in this year’s class extending plays and making something happen outside the pocket. Won’t wow you with his arm strength but it’s functional and he can make all the throws on the field. Natural feel in the pocket. Senses pressure and does a great job in scramble situations. Keeps eyes down the field and can make a big throw downfield or just take off and run for plus yards. Creative in how he gets the ball out. Can throw from different arm angles and is just as dangerous outside the pocket as he is inside of it. Shows poise and toughness. Will stand in and take a shot to get the ball out. Highly intelligent quarterback who should have no problems picking up a college playbook and processes the game extremely fast. Projects as an impact upper-tier Power 5 starter and future mid- to high-round NFL Draft pick.”

Folks, we might have Mac Jones 2.0 on our hands. Simpson is 6’2” and 185 pounds - five pounds more than Jones was as a recruit.

Nick Saban had several Zoom calls with Simpson and his family and stayed in regular contact. This is not something a head coach of any team does with any regularity. Saban was not going to let this one get away. Bill O’Brien also had a Zoom call with him and left the prospect very impressed with his offensive knowledge. This, coming from a college head coach’s son. Over the recent weeks, he also had talks with Mac Jones and new Tide coach Jay Graham who was on the elder Simpson’s UTM staff in 2007. (See, this is why you don’t burn bridges when you leave a job, kids.)

He could not officially visit, but he did attend last season’s Alabama-Kentucky game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Simpson picked the Crimson Tide over Clemson who had been a big favorite by those same “experts” for several months until they all flipped their predictions two days ago. The third team was Tennessee who had been a sentimental in-state choice with UT-Martin being part of the University of Tennessee system. But then Fat F*** Phil Fulmer salted the Knoxville earth and ended that hope.

FUN FACT: Upon signing with the Tide, Simpson will be the first Tennessee native to join the Alabama since Joshua McMillon in 2015.

UP NEXT

Could Alabama possibly pick up two quarterbacks for this class? It worked out pretty well in 2017. Tanner Bailey is a 4-star from right up the street in Gordo, AL. There is no timetable for his announcement.

5-star running back Emmanuel Henderson will be announcing on March 13 with Alabama as a giant favorite. He is from Hartford, AL down near Dothan and is the top running back in the Class of 2022.