MARTIN, Tenn. — Jason Simpson first sat down with Kalen DeBoer in the spring of 2024.
It was the first time the University of Tennessee at Martin coach met Alabama’s new leader, even though both had spent nearly three decades in college football. Simpson wasn’t there only to shake hands with his son’s new coach; the UT Martin coach wanted to know where DeBoer stood on Ty Simpson.
“I knew Ty had a great spring,” Jason said. “But I also knew the success that Jalen (Milroe) had the year before.”
Both Ty and Milroe remained on the roster DeBoer’s first spring in Tuscaloosa. As a result, the man replacing Nick Saban had to figure out what to do with his quarterback room. DeBoer had to navigate keeping multiple high-level players happy. One was the returning starter who led Alabama to the Rose Bowl. The other was a former five-star recruit who hadn’t played much over his first two seasons of college football.
“I wasn’t going to walk in there and say, ‘We’re gonna take our ball and go home,’” Jason said. “The first thing I said to him was, ‘I get it. I get it.’”
Jason sensed relief from the Crimson Tide coach. DeBoer was talking to someone who understood the predicament. So they shared in productive conversation.
“It was comforting for me just for him to acknowledge that (Ty’s) going to be a good player,” Jason said.
Read more: Discover the town, football program and people who raised Alabama QB Ty Simpson
Rocky Ty?: How Ty Simpson almost ended up playing for Tennessee: ‘God closes doors’
The recruiting trail: The best Ty Simpson recruiting stories, featuring Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney and Ed Orgeron
Since DeBoer arrived in 2024, he and Jason have met face-to-face twice. Both meetings occurred during pivotal offseasons when Ty could have left. Those conversations proved vital. DeBoer winning over Jason was important for keeping Ty, considering Jason is his father, role model and “best friend,” per Ty.
“(DeBoer) was great,” Jason said. “I can’t say enough about how comfortable it is to have conversations with him. He’s such a personable person.”
Ty decided to stay for the 2024 season, a year in which he once again worked as Milroe’s primary backup. Then, Milroe left for the NFL Draft after the season, creating an opening at quarterback. Would Alabama stick with someone on the roster, go with a recruit, or wade into the transfer portal?
After Ty graduated in December, Jason and DeBoer met again.
Jason told DeBoer he knows the in-vogue thing to do would be to get a transfer quarterback.
Because you don’t have an established starter.
“I mean if I’m his offensive coordinator,” Jason said, “I’d have been like, ‘How much money do we have? Is there somebody out there that’s throwing for 4,000 yards? Let’s throw him in there and let him compete.’”
That’s what many programs did. Indiana added Fernando Mendoza. Miami secured Carson Beck. Oklahoma brought in John Mateer.
DeBoer, however, shot down the idea.
No, we’re not taking a transfer. Feel good about our quarterback room. Looking forward to seeing Ty grow.
“He put me at ease,” Jason said.
The rest of the meeting was mainly spent talking shop. Two coaches, hanging out. But that conversation, and the one in the spring, laid the foundation for Ty to stay and become Alabama’s next starting quarterback.
“They were great meetings with no promises,” Jason said, “but I think me being a coach helped from the standpoint to where, I said, ‘We as parents, we get it. We deal with it on a daily basis.’”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
