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<\/p>\nMark Schlabach<\/p>\n
ESPN Senior WriterSenior college football writer
\nAuthor of seven books on college football
\nGraduate of the University of Georgia<\/p>\n
Pete Thamel<\/p>\n
Close<\/a> Pete Thamel<\/p>\n Senior College Sports InsiderCollege Football Senior Writer for ESPN. Insider for College Gameday.Jan 8, 2026, 03:11 AM<\/p>\n Alabama<\/a>‘s Ty Simpson<\/a>, who is projected to be among the first quarterbacks selected in this year’s NFL draft, is passing up his senior year of college and turning pro.<\/p>\n Simpson wrote in an Instagram post that included a narrated video<\/a>: “Grateful for every single second. Blessed beyond measure to be able to chase my dreams. Time to roll. Roll Tide.”<\/p>\n “It wasn’t all perfect and it didn’t have to be, but every moment had meaning, and I gave Alabama my all,” Simpson said in the video. “And I got so much more in return. Coach [Nick] Saban was right — it was all worth it.”<\/p>\n Simpson, who started just one season for the Crimson Tide, informed Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb of his decision Wednesday, sources told ESPN.<\/p>\n Simpson’s father, UT-Martin football coach Jason Simpson, said his son received first-round grades from every NFL general manager they contacted.<\/p>\n “Nobody said second round,” Jason Simpson told ESPN.<\/p>\n ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Ty Simpson as the third-best quarterback eligible for the draft, behind Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza<\/a> of Indiana<\/a> and Oregon<\/a>‘s Dante Moore<\/a>, who haven’t yet declared.<\/p>\n Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n Jason Simpson said his son also had other offers to transfer to other Power 4 schools. Sources previously told ESPN that Miami<\/a>, Oregon and Tennessee<\/a> were interested in signing Simpson if he entered the transfer portal.<\/p>\n “There were very, very lucrative opportunities to play another year of college football,” Jason Simpson said.<\/p>\n Ty Simpson, a junior from Martin, Tennessee, completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 2025, leading the No. 9 Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record.<\/p>\n After getting off to a sizzling start and being mentioned among the leading Heisman Trophy contenders, Simpson struggled late in the season, as Alabama’s lack of a running game put more pressure on him to produce in the passing game.<\/p>\n In the Crimson Tide’s final four games, Simpson completed 57% of his attempts for an average of 158.3 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.<\/p>\n Simpson suffered a cracked rib in the first half of a 38-3 loss to No. 1 Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. He said the injury occurred after he took a helmet to the rib while scrambling for a first down late in the first half. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 67 yards against the Hoosiers.<\/p>\n Simpson signed with Saban out of high school in 2022. He was a backup for three seasons before finally replacing Jalen Milroe<\/a>, who was selected in the 2025 draft by the Seattle Seahawks<\/a>, as the starter this past season under DeBoer.<\/p>\n “You coach players and help them reach their goals and dreams,” Jason Simpson said. “Yes, they would love for him to come back. But if you’ve got an opportunity to go be a first-round pick in the NFL draft, you go. That’s why they pour all that into you, for that individual opportunity, so I really appreciated them.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767809408_305_thamel_pete.png&h=80&w=80&scale=crop.png\"\/)
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