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AJ McCarron lists his frontrunner for Alabama’s QB1 job
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron knows all about the pressures of playing for the Crimson Tide. A star for Nick Saban during his dynasty in Tuscaloosa, McCarron was the starting QB for back-to-back national titles in 2011 and 2012.
Now, McCarron is breaking down the ongoing 3-man quarterback race under head coach Kalen DeBoer. While things still look open heading into the summer, McCarron has Ty Simpson as his frontrunner to be QB1 this fall.
“I think it’s Ty’s job to lose,” admitted McCarron from the Regions Tradition Pro Am. “He’s been there, he’s put in the work. Player’s respect them, and he’s talented. He’s a great kid. I wish him nothing but the best.”
Though he has just 50 career passes in 3 seasons with the Crimson Tide, Simpson did arrive in Tuscaloosa as a 5-star QB in the 2022 recruiting class. He has since waited his time behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe but served as the primary backup to Milroe last fall.
Austin Mack (a 4-star QB from the class of 2023) and 5-star freshman Keelon Russell (the No. 2 overall prospect in 2025) are also fighting for the job this fall, but McCarron believes Simpson’s extra experience and waiting his time will win out. McCarron also said the two have discussed the pressure associated with playing for the Crimson Tide, but that’s just a part of the process.
“That’s what me and Ty have talked about before. Just the pressure of playing at Alabama and expectations. It comes with it, it’s what you signed up for, it’s what makes Alabama such a special place to play, I think,” said McCarron. “Pressure creates diamonds, so go out and have fun and do what you’ve done your whole life playing the game, and then let the chips fall where they fall.”
Regardless of who earns the job, they will take over an offense for an Alabama team among the favorites to win the 2025 national championship. In spite of an up-and-down 2024 season, DraftKings has the Crimson Tide at +1400 to win it all in DeBoer’s 2nd season, and the starting QB race will go a long way toward shaping the team’s ceiling this fall.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
