Latest update from national college football insider makes it seem less likely that Ty Simpson will end up at Tennessee
All eyes are on Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson’s NFL Draft decision.
Is Ty Simpson going to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Tennessee Vols, the Oregon Ducks, or a team in the NFL in 2026?
That’s the question that a lot of folks around college football are waiting to hear the answer to this week.
The feeling around the sport is that if Simpson doesn’t declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, then he won’t back at Alabama next season.
In that case, Tennessee, a team that recruited the quarterback heavily in high school, would instantly be one of the top teams to watch for Simpson.
On3’s Chris Low provides the latest on Alabama QB Ty Simpson
On3 national college football insider Chris Low joined WNML’s Josh and Swain on Tuesday and shared the latest on Simpson’s looming decision.
“Ty and his family, and his reps, are trying to get the best feedback and truest feedback they can get from NFL people,” said Low. “And most of the NFL people I’ve talked to — and I’ve talked to a few this week — think he’s probably going to be the third quarterback taken. Now, this is going to be a light quarterback draft, Dante Moore and (Fernando) Mendoza [are] the two ahead of him.
“So just because he’s the third or even the fourth or second quarterback, doesn’t mean it’s just a given that he’d be a first round pick. I do think he probably will be. And I don’t know that it’s going to be in the top 15, but probably somewhere between 15 and 30 (in the first round) is where he projects right now. And I think it gets back then to Ty and his family, is that good enough? If he feels pretty definitive that he’s going to be a first round pick, does he take his shot? I think he probably will at that point. But if [there’s] not a lot of clarity that he’s going to be (a first round pick), then I think he’s going to come back and play football for another year.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be Alabama,” continued Low. “I think Tennessee would be his most likely destination. I wouldn’t completely rule out Oregon. I think he’s got some people in his camp that have some ties to Oregon, but I think Tennessee would be the leader in the clubhouse if he does indeed decide to come back and play another year of college football. At this point, I don’t see a scenario where he goes back to Alabama.”
Low, by the way, made sure to point out that this isn’t a situation where Alabama is pushing Simpson out the door or anything like that.
As for Low’s other comments, it just feels like the NFL is the most likely scenario for Simpson — even though staying another year in college (whether that’s Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, or somewhere else) would be best for his development.
Ty Simpson did some great things last season, but we haven’t seen Ty Simpson at his best at the collegiate level yet. He still has untapped potential to reach.
But it’s tough to pass up being a first round pick. And as most NFL fans know, quarterbacks tend to rise dramatically during the draft process. If Simpson is considered a late first round pick right now, he could easily work himself into a top 15 pick by April with strong team interviews and good combine/pro day showings.
We should know Simpson’s decision by the end of next week at the latest — the transfer portal closes on January 16.
Tennessee Volunteers News
Tennessee, Alabama, or the NFL: The best decision for Ty Simpson is obvious, but it’s understandable if the QB takes another path
Alabama Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson is reportedly weighing entering the NFL Draft or returning to college.
