Over the last few days, there have been rumblings that Alabama Crimson Tide redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson could land with the Tennessee Vols if he decides to return to college football in 2026.

The feeling was that Simpson wouldn’t be returning to Alabama if he played another year in college, and there was speculation that Tennessee, which recruited the former five-star recruit as a high schooler, would be a potential landing spot for him.

Simpson, however, announced on Wednesday morning that he’s declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Simpson was awaiting feedback from NFL teams this week on how he’ll be viewed as a draft prospect.

UT-Martin head coach Jason Simpson, Ty’s dad, told ESPN that every NFL general manager the family spoke to said that the Alabama quarterback is a first rounder.

“Nobody said second round,” said Jason Simpson to ESPN.

ESPN report confirms that Tennessee had interest in Ty Simpson

ESPN’s Pete Thamel confirmed on Wednesday that Tennessee had real interest in Simpson.

Miami and Oregon were also interested in Simpson, according to Thamel.

“Jason Simpson said his son also had offers to transfer to other Power 4 schools,” wrote Thamel. “Sources previously told ESPN that Miami, Oregon and Tennessee were interested in signing Simpson if he entered the transfer portal.”

“There were very, very lucrative opportunities to play another year of college football,” said Jason Simpson to ESPN.

With Simpson no longer an option, the Vols have turned their attention to Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, who is set to begin a visit Tennessee on Wednesday according to VolQuest.

Leavitt was at LSU for a visit on Tuesday.

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