Ryan Grubb Names Leader in Alabama Quarterback Race

There was no coach speak on Monday as Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb took to the podium for his post-A-Day media availability.

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Grubb was asked about the quarterback battle now that Alabama has completed 15 spring practices with 138 days until the Crimson Tide takes on Florida State. The Tide's first-year offensive coordinator did not hold back with his comments.

"If we're playing a game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would be the starter. He's earned it," Grubb said.

Grubb also joked that "That's the line everybody's looking for, but that's what he earned."

Simpson is the most experienced quarterback on the Tide's roster, going into his redshirt junior season. He split first-team reps with Keelon Russell and Austin Mack during spring practice, but only Mack took first-team reps alongside Simpson on A-Day. While Grubb spoke highly of Mack and Russell, Simpson performed better through the first 15 practices of the 2025 season.

“Austin made huge strides,” Grubb said. “Also, available reps were the same, and he did a really good job. He came out and developed. Just with some of the nuances and taking care of the football and things like that, I thought Ty showed out a little bit better.”

Freshman Keelon Russell is also in the mix, with Grubb providing high praise for the five-star freshman from Duncanville, relating him to a current NFL starting quarterback.

“Honestly, Keelon exceeded my expectations,” Grubb said. “I think for a young man his age, he never gave into that opportunity. We challenged him with that. ‘Don’t give into I’m a freshman and this and that.’ And he didn’t. I say this all the time to him, and I mean it as the biggest compliment. He reminds me so much of Michael Penix and his demeanor."

“He has such a calm demeanor. Sometimes you need to find the other edge of that and put a little bit of rush on it, but he did a great job. He had a couple days at the end that he wish he’d have played a little bit better, but man, I thought he made huge strides.”

Alabama opens the season on August 30 against Florida State.

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_.