Quarterback
At this point in the offseason, the question is no longer “Who is going to start?” We know the answer is Ty Simpson. The question is, how will Simpson perform? The redshirt junior quarterback will be in his 4th season at Alabama and 2nd season under Head Coach Kalen DeBoer. Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb is back with DeBoer after a 1 year stint as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. Despite being fired by Seattle, Grubb’s offense led to Geno Smith’s most passing yards, second-most passing touchdowns, and highest completion percentage for a season in Smith’s career.
Most college football fans will point to Alabama’s game versus USF in 2023 as a case against Simpson. However, Simpson finished the game 5/9 for 73 yards, while Tyler Buchner finished the game 5/14 for 34 yards. Simpson also ran for a touchdown and was the quarterback for both of Alabama’s touchdown drives. Regardless, when Simpson trots out to start in week one, almost 2 full years will have passed since the USF game.
As for Simpson’s projected supporting cast in 2025, he will have one of the nation’s most elite wide receiver trios at his disposal. Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Isaiah Horton will look to revive Alabama’s passing attack after two straight seasons of less than 3,000 passing yards from Jalen Milroe. Additionally, Simpson will be protected by PFF’s preseason #1 offensive line in college football.
Simpson, a former 5-star in the 2022 recruiting class, seemingly has the tools for the job. But can he handle the workload and responsibility that comes with being the starting quarterback in a DeBoer/Grubb offense that is quarterback-centric?
Tight End
Alabama’s upperclassmen in the tight end room consist of Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis, and Brody Dalton. Cuevas is the unquestioned leader, but he brings only 16 catches from the 2024 season. Lewis currently has one career reception. Dalton is transferring in from Troy, where he caught only 15 passes in 2024.
Behind the upperclassmen are Jay Lindsey, Marshall Pritchett, and Kaleb Edwards. While these three are considered to be talented prospects, they are inexperienced. Jay Lindsey has one career reception. Pritchett and Edwards were top-15 tight ends in the 2025 recruiting class, but are these two true freshmen ready to contribute?
Josh Cuevas will lead the charge in 2025 and will serve as a safety blanket for his first-year starting quarterback, Ty Simpson. Alabama’s tight end room undoubtedly has some talented run blockers as well. But can any of these players emerge as a true playmaker in 2025?
Sack Production
In 2024, Alabama finished tied-60th in the nation for sacks per game. The Crimson Tide defense managed to sack the opposing QB only twice per game and finished with only 25 total sacks on the season. Jihaad Campbell and Que Robinson, who combined for 9 of the 25, are off to the NFL. So, where does the sack production come from this season?
Alabama added DL Kelby Collins in the transfer portal, but Collins has 1.5 career sacks in 2 seasons. LT Overton returns, and he led Alabama in QB pressures last season. However, due to Overton’s apparent lack of tackling skills, he finished just tied-4th on the team in sacks. Will LT Overton be able to wrap up the QB and get him on the ground this season?
Heading into 2025, Alabama does not have a returning starter who totaled more than 2.5 total sacks last season. Tim Keenan III, Alabama’s 325-pound nose tackle, is responsible for those 2.5 sacks. The Crimson Tide is struggling to find sack production at the EDGE position. A defense that has featured Will Anderson Jr, Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, and Jihaad Campbell in recent years is once again searching for a pass-rush alpha. Can Kane Wommack’s defense find ways to get opposing QBs on the ground?
Linebacker
With Alabama returning key contributors in Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson, you may ask why linebacker is a key question for 2025. Well, the first question lies in Deontae Lawson’s health. Lawson has missed multiple games in each of the last 3 seasons. Does this pattern continue? Will he find that these injuries are taking a toll on his athleticism?
Behind Lawson and Jefferson, does Alabama have a true LB3? Is it incoming Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green? In terms of experience, Hill-Green brings 40 career games and 206 total tackles. However, he also brings a 2024 PFF tackling grade of 48.4 and a pass-rush grade of 53.9. In coverage, Hill-Green received a grade of 54.5.
After Hill-Green, Alabama possesses multiple highly ranked underclassmen. Noah Carter, Cayden Jones, Duke Johnson II, Luke Metz, and Abduall Sanders Jr, are all formerly highly-touted recruits. Carter and Jones have 8 career total tackles combined, while Johnson II, Metz, and Sanders Jr will all be true freshmen in 2025.
Given that Wommack’s defense relies on 3 solid linebackers, depth could quickly become a thorn in Alabama’s side. Lawson’s health is not a guarantee, and Hill-Green appears to require significant development for a player who has appeared in only 40 games. Will the three upperclassmen serve Alabama well, or will an inexperienced player need to emerge as a budding star?
