MARTIN, Tenn. — Jason Simpson first sat down with Kalen DeBoer in the spring of 2024.

It was the first time the University of Tennessee at Martin coach met Alabama’s new leader, even though both had spent nearly three decades in college football. Simpson wasn’t there only to shake hands with his son’s new coach; the UT Martin coach wanted to know where DeBoer stood on Ty Simpson.

“I knew Ty had a great spring,” Jason said. “But I also knew the success that Jalen (Milroe) had the year before.”

Both Ty and Milroe remained on the roster DeBoer’s first spring in Tuscaloosa. As a result, the man replacing Nick Saban had to figure out what to do with his quarterback room. DeBoer had to navigate keeping multiple high-level players happy. One was the returning starter who led Alabama to t

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