Alabama breakout player in 2025? ESPN analyst Chris Low makes his pick

Alabama faces an important Year 2 under head coach Kalen DeBoer in 2025. After struggling (by the Crimson Tide’s lofty standards) in 2024, fans and media members will be looking for progress from Alabama.

With QB Jalen Milroe off to the NFL Draft, the Tide will need a new QB to step up to get the ball to star WR Ryan Williams and the other playmakers.

This week, ESPN’s college football analysts looked at their way-too-early top-25 squads and named players from each team that could break out in 2025. Senior analyst Chris Low predicted QB Ty Simpson would win the Alabama QB battle:

There will be some intrigue this spring surrounding the quarterback battle at Alabama, especially with Ryan Grubb coming in as offensive coordinator. The Crimson Tide brought in five-star freshman Keelon Russell, and talented Austin Mack followed Kalen DeBoer to Alabama from Washington last year. But it’s Simpson’s time now after backing up Jalen Milroe the past two seasons. The Alabama staff really liked the way Simpson competed last preseason and last spring, and he wasn’t too far behind Milroe. While not as dynamic an athlete as Milroe, Simpson is still plenty athletic and more consistent throwing the ball. This is Simpson’s fourth year on campus, and though he hasn’t played much, he’s a good fit for what Grubb and DeBoer want to do on offense.

As Low mentions, Simpson has been in Tuscaloosa for a while. Is this the year he steps into a starring role? We’ll see how this spring goes.

Alabama opens the 2025 season at Florida State on Saturday, August 30.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.