Josh Pate comments on Ty Simpson turning down ‘mega offers’ from Miami, other programs
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Josh Pate provided Alabama fans with some context in the aftermath of Ty Simpson’s decision to stick with his original decision.
That original decision was to move on from Alabama and declare for the NFL Draft this spring. Simpson could’ve done 1 of 3 things after his first — and only — season as the Crimson Tide starting quarterback ended with a crushing blowout loss to eventual national champion Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Simpson could’ve stayed for another season in Tuscaloosa. Or he could’ve turned pro. Or, as Pate broke down during an appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast on Tuesday, he could’ve leapt at one of the big-time offers coming from other collegiate powerhouses, most notably Miami, which lost to Indiana in the national title game and was looking for a replacement for Carson Beck.
Ultimately, Simpson stuck to his guns — he decided to leave Bama but not head to an SEC rival or a program like Miami. He’s going pro and will look forward to hearing his name called at the draft in Pittsburgh in late April.
“In retrospect, Ty Simpson was never going to do anything other than go to the draft. He had mega offers on the table. He had a mega offer from Miami on the table,” Pate said. “I’ve got respect for it. I’ve got a lot of respect for it because his reasoning was, ‘I was a captain at Alabama, I’ve got my hands in the concrete there at Alabama. I don’t want to be looked at as a guy that just sort of threw that away and went elsewhere.’
“That’s such an old school and bygone way of thinking. I could not have any more respect for that. I wish there was more of that.”
So, while Alabama fans won’t get Simpson back in 2026, no other rival programs will get their hands on Simpson, either.
Instead, some lucky NFL team will. And Pate’s point was how refreshing it was that Simpson ignored the temptation of those mega offers and stayed loyal to Alabama, even if he won’t be playing for the Crimson Tide this fall.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
