Breaking News: 2024 Alabama Fall Football Preview: The Quarterbacks. Full Story 👇
2024 Alabama Fall Football Preview: The Quarterbacks. Full Story 👇
With the arrival of new head coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama’s offense is set to undergo a significant transformation. DeBoer is known for an offensive strategy that heavily relies on the quarterback position, as evidenced by his previous work with Michael Penix Jr., who averaged 37 pass attempts per game in 2023. This shift is a notable departure from Alabama’s historically balanced offense, like in 2020 when Mac Jones led the team with just under 31 passes per game, marking the school’s most prolific passing attack at that time.
Despite inheriting a talented group of running backs and a strong interior offensive line, DeBoer is expected to continue emphasizing the passing game. This raises concerns among Alabama fans about whether the current roster has a quarterback capable of executing this high-volume passing attack effectively in the highly competitive SEC. The season will soon reveal whether these worries are justified. Here’s a closer look at the quarterbacks contending for the starting role.
The Starter: Jalen Milroe (4, RS Jr.)
Jalen Milroe enters the season as Alabama’s clear starting quarterback. By now, fans are familiar with Milroe’s strengths and weaknesses. He is known for his ability to throw an impressive deep ball and his potential as a game-changing runner. However, last season, he struggled with consistency, particularly in the intermediate passing game, and often held onto the ball too long.
DeBoer has spoken extensively about tailoring the offense to his quarterback’s strengths, and in Milroe’s case, this means leveraging his deep passing ability and his threat as a runner. Unlike Penix, who rarely ran the ball, Milroe’s ability to make plays with his legs will likely force defenses to adjust, pulling additional defenders out of coverage and potentially opening up more opportunities downfield.
Milroe has also emerged as a key leader in DeBoer’s “player-led” team approach, making him the face of the Alabama program. In today’s quarterback-driven era, the team’s success will largely depend on Milroe’s performance.
Returning Depth: Ty Simpson (15, RS So.)
Ty Simpson, a highly touted five-star recruit from the 2022 class, provides solid depth at the quarterback position. Simpson, whose father is the head coach at UT-Martin, is expected to have a strong football IQ. Last season, he saw limited action in games against South Florida and Chattanooga, completing 9 of 15 passes for 123 yards and rushing for one touchdown.
Simpson’s decision to stay at Alabama rather than transfer this summer speaks to his commitment and confidence. If Milroe has a strong season and moves on to the NFL, Simpson will likely get the first opportunity to start next year. Reports from camp indicate that he is adapting well to DeBoer’s system, and he should be a reliable backup this season. Ideally, Alabama will have enough dominant performances to allow Simpson some playing time in blowout victories.
The Newcomers: Dylan Lonergan (12, RS Fr.) and Austin Mack (10, RS Fr.)
Dylan Lonergan, a redshirt freshman from Brookwood High in Atlanta, also remains on the roster after impressing in spring practice last year. Though he was third string last season and remains in a similar position this year, his decision to stay in Tuscaloosa for another season indicates that he still sees a path forward at Alabama.
Austin Mack is another redshirt freshman who joined the team after Julian Sayin, a highly regarded recruit, left for Ohio State. Speculation surrounds the circumstances of Mack’s arrival, but he has quickly made an impression. Despite being young, Mack has shown potential in spring practices. Standing at 6’6” and ranked as a top-75 prospect by 247 Sports, Mack is a traditional pocket passer who is familiar with DeBoer’s offensive system. While he is one to watch for the future, if he sees significant playing time this season, it could mean Alabama’s starter is facing challenges.
As Alabama enters this new era under DeBoer, the quarterback position will be critical in determining the team’s success. Jalen Milroe’s leadership and development, along with the depth provided by Ty Simpson and promising newcomers like Austin Mack, will be key factors to watch throughout the season.
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