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When will Alabama name a starting QB? Kalen DeBoer shares potential timeline
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Alabama is in the midst of a fierce quarterback competition this offseason, and now we have a better idea of when it might come to an end.
On Monday, ESPN’s Greg McElroy published an extensive interview with Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback himself, asked DeBoer about an ideal time frame for naming a starting quarterback.
DeBoer said he historically prefers to name a starting QB a little more than a week before the first game kicks off.
“There’s been roughly a similar kind of timeframe throughout fall camp,” said DeBoer in an interview with Greg McElroy and the Always College Football podcast. “And the last week and a half … we usually have a little bit longer of a phase … we call them ‘bonus practices’ leading up to Week 1. And there’s a weekend before and then a few days before that.
“That’s kind of when you really for sure like to have the starter named and him be able to start really being in sync with his receiving corps, jelling that way and really dialing in on the reps.”
DeBoer also said he’s had QB competitions in his career where he’s felt comfortable naming a starter up to a week before that timeline, however.
In this case, Ty Simpson appears to be the leader. He’s been on campus in Tuscaloosa for several seasons and is the most experienced of the group. However, Austin Mack is another potential option and perhaps could benefit from the return of Ryan Grubb to the Alabama coaching staff. Grubb recruited Mack to Washington out of high school and the pair will now be reunited at Alabama.
The wildcard is 5-star freshman Keelon Russell, who many expect to be the long-term answer at this position for Alabama.
In any case, it seems DeBoer is intent on naming a starting quarterback (at least) roughly 10 days before its season-opener against Florida State on Aug. 30.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
