TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ty Simpson declared for the NFL draft Wednesday, leaving Alabama after one season as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound redshirt junior could be one of the first quarterbacks selected at this year’s draft, which is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza — who became his school’s first Heisman Trophy winner last month and has the undefeated, top-ranked Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff semifinals this week — is seen as the likely No. 1 selection. The Las Vegas Raiders are set to pick first after going 3-14 during the NFL’s 2025 regular season.
“I’ll cherish all of it as I take the next step for preparing for the NFL draft,” Simpson said in a video posted on social media.
Simpson said he was tempted to take an easier path while he spent three seasons waiting for his turn after being recruited by Nick Saban, who coached the Tide from 2007-23 and led them to six national championships and nine Southeastern Conference titles. Simpson said “you just are Alabama or you’re not.”
He cracked a rib in ninth-seeded Alabama’s 38-3 loss to Indiana in the CFP’s Rose Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s day. Simpson threw for 67 yards before that injury late in the first half, which knocked him out of the game in Pasadena, California. Alabama finished the season 11-4, with the Tide losing the SEC title game to reigning conference champion Georgia, then winning a first-round game at No 8 seed Oklahoma in the 12-team playoff to avenge a regular-season home loss to the Sooners.
Simpson completed 64.5% of his passes this season as he threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for two scores.