Kalen DeBoer and Alabama tried to do the unthinkable by recruiting rival quarterback in transfer portal
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach has little time to waste to prove he's cut out to survive as Nick Saban's heir. Apparently, that desperation means recruiting a rival quarterback when given the chance. With Alabama's 2025 quarterback situation unsettled, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide called former Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck after he hit the […]
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach has little time to waste to prove he's cut out to survive as Nick Saban's heir. Apparently, that desperation means recruiting a rival quarterback when given the chance.
With Alabama's 2025 quarterback situation unsettled, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide called former Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck after he hit the transfer portal. Matt Hayes of USA Today reported Alabama called after Georgia had initally told Beck they'd like him to return.
Admittedly, Beck would've made sense in DeBoer's vertical passing game more than Jalen Milroe did. Assuming Beck returns from his elbow injury in a timely manner and at full health, he's a capable game manager who raises the floor of the unit.
Things get hairy when he doesn't have a lot of help around him, though, so I don't think the fit was perfect. Instead, Alabama will look at Ty Simpson and Keelon Russell.
Simpson is likely the odds-on favorite to start the 2025 season for the Tide. He previously said he's ready to start, and there was some surprise when he opted against transferring out before this past year. Simpson will be a fourth-year junior in 2025.
This season, he participated in six games, passing for 167 yards with a 14-of-25 completion rate. Additionally, he rushed for 44 yards and scored one touchdown on eight carries in his third year with the Alabama football team.
The former 5-star QB has yet to start, though, and his small sample size hasbeen nothing special. He has some running ability as well, though obviously is not comparable to Milroe.
The elephant in the room right now and will continue to be until he's named the starter is 5-star dual athlete Keelon Russell. Coming off an incredible end of his high school career, Russell is ranked as the No. 2 passer in a deep crop of prospects.
The raw physical ability is certainly there for Russell, and he seems more mentally prepared to play at a high level than most recruits are.
But is it reasonable for the 6-foot-3, 175-pounder to catch up on Simpson's experience and time in DeBoer's offense? Is it even wise to push a true freshman into the role when the Tide lack a deep array of high-end playmaking and a run game?
I'd argue that wouldn't be the best case for his development, or for DeBoer to rehab his image with the fan base.
