We are truly into the worst time of the year now as we enter June with no good sports news until August (sorry, stick ball sports). Kalen DeBoer is being an all-around good guy for us, though, and has gone and done a few interviews the last few weeks.
“I think all three quarterbacks that we have do have the ability to extend plays. You know that, I’m speaking your language, quarterback, what they’re doing as far as moving the chains,” DeBoer said. “ Using their legs to keep plays alive. And Austin Mack, even as big as he is, once he gets moving, he covers a lot of ground. And Ty was a great duel-threat, and Keelon has the same abilities, to make people miss and probably faster than most people think.”
DeBoer said Alabama would like to choose its next starter a “week-and-a-half” before its Aug. 30 season-opener at Florida State. Simpson was the the frontrunner after spring, having served as UA’s primary backup for the past two years behind Milroe.
For what it’s worth, this has been one of the least contentious (among Alabama fans) offseason QB battles I’ve seen since… Well, probably before social media existed. Even here on Roll Bama Roll, most everyone seems to be in a wait-and-see mode, whereas in the past, we’ve had some knock-down, drag-out wars over Greg McElroy vs Star Jackson, AJ McCarron vs Phillip Sims, Blake Sims vs Cooper Bateman, Jalen Hurts vs Blake Barnett, and don’t even get me started on the offseason with Hurts vs Tua Tagovailoa.
This time around, though? There doesn’t seem to be any candidate that anyone has extremely strong feelings for or against.
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
But hey, to drum up some offseason engagement, who do you think should be Alabama’s QB in 2025 (not necessarily who you think the coaches will pick)?
Poll
Which Alabama QB do you want to be the starter in 2025?
-
10%
Keelon Russell
(70 votes)
695 votes total
Vote Now
To Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, it’s the cohesion between he and his teammates that will set the Crimson Tide up for success.
“For me, this is what I was missing last year I almost, like not regret, but wish I could have been here last spring as well just because I feel we’ve built so much team chemistry in this spring,” Williams said. “I feel like it’s the foundation of what our team is going to lean on in December, November.”
I thought this was a cool quote to highlight from Ryan Williams. On the surface it feels like the usual interview-speak being positive about the offseason, but I do think it’s worth noting how much of Alabama’s roster last year was new and had little time to form a cohesive group. It was a brand new coaching staff, new schemes, and most of the Tide’s best players were all new to the program as well.
- Ryan Williams – summer enrollee
- Germie Bernard – spring transfer
- Parker Brailsford – spring transfer but didn’t join the team until summer
- LT Overton – spring transfer
- Domani Jackson – spring transfer
All of these guys were cornerstones of the Tide’s roster, and all came from different places. Now, they all return after a season with the rest of the squad and coaches. That kind of continuity can only be a good thing.
“When coach DeBoer first got here, it was kind of a culture shock,” Williams said. “Just listening to the other guys. Some people weren’t bought into coach DeBoer yet. Now that we’re in year 2, basically everyone that’s here, they’re bought into coach DeBoer and the rest of the coaching staff and everything we do.”
General manager Courtney Morgan, who came over from Washington with DeBoer, said the players now understand what’s expected of them.
“I think the No. 1 word you can use is trust,” Morgan said. “I think there’s more trust in the building between the coaches and the players because we’ve been together for a year.”
Morgan also believes that players know the same standard remains, no matter who the coach is.
“You have a new coach taking over for an old coach, the expectations can get lost a little bit,” Morgan said. “There’s always a little stubbornness.”
Linebacker Justin Jefferson, who also played for Saban, said everybody is buying into the coaches.
“Especially after losing four games, you’ve got to buy into something,” Jefferson said. “Can’t do that again. Can’t do that again. I really feel like it’s a lot of buzz, a lot of anticipation, a lot of excitement for what’s coming. Really anxious to get to work.”
Obviously, it’s always easy to talk about how well things are going before the season starts. Still, the message is consistent across a bunch of people through the program, and that’s encouraging.
Thomalla is one of two 2026 quarterbacks to get recent offers from Alabama along with Cincinnati four-star Matt Ponatoski, each coming after in-person throwing sessions in front of Alabama quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan.
Thomalla has confidence. Throughout his recruitment, he said he always knew offers would come. Attention that came after a junior season at Millard South High School where he completed 69.6% of his 359 pass attempts for 3,664 yards, 47 passing touchdowns and 3 interceptions, per MaxPreps.
About this time a year ago, Alabama made an offer to a 3-star QB who had been committed to SMU, Keelon Russell. It didn’t take too long, and the rest of the nation caught on, with Russell winding up the #1 player in the country. So if this staff thinks Thomella, a solid 4-star prospect, could be the guy, I’ll trust them on it.
