Vols insider details why Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was in Alabama QB Ty Simpson’s home town to start the week
Rumors are swirling that Alabama QB Ty Simpson could enter the transfer portal if he doesn’t declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel raised some eyebrows on Monday when he was spotted in Martin, TN visiting high school recruits.
Heupel’s visit was noteworthy for a couple of reasons. For one, rumors are swirling that Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, who is from Martin, is weighing whether to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft or return to college.
If Simpson returns to college, it’s possible he could enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Tennessee would instantly be the top contender for Simpson if he enters the portal.
The other reason Heupel’s trip to Martin raised some eyebrows is because the Vols had multiple transfer visitors on campus on Monday.
Vols Insider explains Josh Heupel’s trip to Martin, TN
VolQuest’s Austin Price broke down Heupel’s trip to west Tennessee on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will.
Price also shared some thoughts on Simpson’s future.
“Well, right now he’s the quarterback at Alabama, who’s not in the portal,” said Price of Simpson. “But if he decided to not turn pro, and he decided to enter the portal, much like Carson Beck did a year ago, then yes, he would be a very realistic option for Josh Heupel and Tennessee. And that’s kind of where it’s at. I know Josh Heupel took a trip over yesterday to Martin Westview (high school) to recruit. That [trip] was on the books for a long time before he took this visit. That’s hard for the grassy knoll group to understand, but that’s the facts.
“And for the people that struggle with the fact that [Heupel] had portal visitors in, he was over there early in the morning and back in the office by late morning. He doesn’t go station to station like fourth graders with these players. He has set times. He meets with these players in his office, with their families, and individually. He goes to dinner with them. Nothing was really hampered yesterday by going out and doing a little bit of high school recruiting — which he has, again, done from time to time. And Tennessee coaches are allowed to do that. And then they’re balancing being out on the road versus being in town for visits. So a lot of your defensive staff, they’re all in town because they tried to bring in so many guys (for transfer visits). Whereas, a guy like (WRs coach) Kelsey Pope, you’re not taking a receiver out of the portal, so he can be out there and working things from the recruiting standpoint.”
Despite Price’s comments, there are still some college football fans who seem to think Heupel was in west Tennessee “tampering” with Simpson on Monday.
2027 four-star running back Asa Barnes, however, told On3 that Heupel visited with him for “a little over two hours,” which leaves virtually no time for an incognito mission to work out a secret deal with Simpson.
As for Simpson, it sounds like he will make a decision sometime by the end of the week (the portal closes on January 16). If the Alabama quarterback gets assurances he’s going to be a first round pick, he’ll probably declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. But if not, suddenly the possibility of Simpson landing with the Vols will become a lot more real.
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.
