How Each Alabama Quarterback Could Earn the Starting Job for 2025

As Alabama football enters the 2025 season, one of the most intriguing and closely watched battles will be the competition at quarterback. The Crimson Tide’s storied history at the position has seen legends like Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Tua Tagovailoa, and Bryce Young, all of whom have elevated the program to new heights. With a new coaching staff and an evolving offensive philosophy under Kalen DeBoer, the stakes are high for Alabama’s quarterbacks as they fight for the coveted starting role.

The 2025 competition features a mix of returning players with experience, promising transfers, and blue-chip recruits. Each player has unique strengths and skill sets, making it essential to examine how each one could earn the starting nod. Let’s break down the candidates and explore what they need to do to secure the job.

1. Ty Simpson: The Intriguing Former Five-Star Talent

Ty Simpson entered Alabama in 2023 as a five-star recruit, highly touted for his strong arm, athleticism, and potential. However, his first two seasons have been a roller coaster. Simpson saw limited action as a freshman and had a mixed bag of performances in the 2024 season. Despite a few flashes of brilliance, he struggled to put together consistently dominant performances, leading to questions about his development and readiness for a starting role.

To earn the starting job in 2025, Simpson needs to focus on improving his consistency and decision-making. One of the most pressing areas of development for Simpson is his ability to read defenses quickly and make smart throws under pressure. His arm strength and ability to make all the necessary throws are unquestioned, but his poise in the pocket and ability to avoid costly turnovers will ultimately determine his fate.

What Simpson Needs to Do:

• Improve Decision-Making: Simpson’s ability to protect the football and avoid bad turnovers is a key area of focus. To be effective in Alabama’s offense, he must show an ability to take what the defense gives him and avoid forcing passes.
• Show Consistency in Practice: DeBoer will need to see that Simpson can be consistently accurate and perform well in live-game scenarios, not just in individual drills or scrimmages.
• Develop Leadership Skills: Simpson needs to take charge of the offense, especially with a young and potentially developing receiving corps. If he can command the huddle and earn the trust of his teammates, it could tip the scales in his favor.

2. Jalen Milroe: The Dual-Threat Athlete with Explosive Potential

Jalen Milroe was thrust into action in 2024 after an injury sidelined starter Tyler Buchner, and Milroe’s dual-threat ability quickly made him a fan favorite. A dynamic playmaker, Milroe brings both mobility and the ability to make deep throws, making him a unique weapon in DeBoer’s offense. He finished the 2024 season with solid numbers, including a few spectacular performances in relief of Buchner, but Milroe’s inconsistency and struggles in certain situations kept him from locking down the starting role.

For Milroe to earn the starting job in 2025, he must refine his passing game while continuing to leverage his legs as a weapon. His ability to make plays outside of the pocket and turn broken plays into positive gains is one of his strongest attributes. However, his mechanics and downfield accuracy have been a work in progress. Milroe will need to prove that he can read defenses at an elite level and take advantage of passing windows without relying too heavily on his scrambling ability.

What Milroe Needs to Do:

• Develop Passing Accuracy: Milroe’s deep ball accuracy is one of his biggest question marks. If he can become a more accurate passer on intermediate routes and improve his touch on deep throws, it would make him much more dangerous and difficult to defend.
• Limit Turnovers: Like many young quarterbacks, Milroe has struggled with turnover-prone mistakes in critical moments. Protecting the football and making sound decisions when scrambling will be crucial for his progression.
• Show Improvement as a Field General: Milroe will need to take charge in the huddle and demonstrate that he can read defenses and make quick decisions. If he can elevate his play-calling ability and timing with receivers, he will put himself in a strong position for the starting role.

3. Dylan Lonergan: The Rising Freshman With All the Tools

Dylan Lonergan arrives in Tuscaloosa in 2025 as one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in his recruiting class. Known for his high football IQ, accuracy, and strong arm, Lonergan is a natural pocket passer who can make all the throws at the collegiate level. He’s also got good mobility, though he’s not the dual-threat athlete that Milroe is. As a true freshman, Lonergan will be learning on the fly, but his talent is undeniable.

For Lonergan to seize the starting job, he will need to prove that he can handle the intensity of the college game. Freshmen often struggle with the speed and complexity of SEC defenses, and Lonergan will have to adapt quickly if he wants to compete for a starting spot. His development in practice, combined with how quickly he can adjust to the competition, will ultimately determine whether he’s ready for the role in 2025.

What Lonergan Needs to Do:

• Master the Playbook: Lonergan will need to spend extra time in the film room, learning DeBoer’s offensive system and becoming comfortable with the expectations of the position. His ability to grasp the offense early will be crucial in competing for the starting role.
• Show Command in Scrimmages: Lonergan will need to take advantage of every opportunity he gets in practice and scrimmages. His performance in live-game situations will be key to his development.
• Build Chemistry with Receivers: For a young quarterback, establishing chemistry with the receiving corps is essential. Lonergan’s ability to throw accurate passes and connect on timing routes will help his cause in the competition.

4. Tyler Buchner: The Transfer Who Wants Redemption

Tyler Buchner, who transferred from Notre Dame in 2024, came to Alabama with a lot of expectations, but his season was derailed by injuries and inconsistent play. Buchner showed flashes of his potential but never quite seemed to settle into the starting role, leading to a position battle heading into 2025.

Now, Buchner finds himself in a competitive environment, and his redemption arc begins in 2025. For Buchner to earn the starting role, he will need to stay healthy and rediscover the form that made him a highly sought-after recruit. With his experience and prior starting time at Notre Dame, he brings a wealth of experience that could give him the edge over the younger quarterbacks.

What Buchner Needs to Do:

• Stay Healthy: Injuries were a major factor in Buchner’s struggles last season, and his ability to stay on the field will be critical in the battle for the starting role. DeBoer will be looking for consistency and availability above all else.
• Lead with Confidence: Buchner has experience starting in big games, but he needs to display confidence in his decision-making and leadership. If he can command the huddle and prove that he can execute DeBoer’s offense, he’ll be in the conversation for the top spot.
• Minimize Mistakes: Buchner’s biggest challenge has been his tendency to make errant throws at critical moments. If he can limit mistakes and execute at a higher level, he could win back the starting role.

5. Jaden Rashada: The Wild Card Transfer

One of the most intriguing figures in the quarterback competition for 2025 is Jaden Rashada, a highly touted transfer from Arizona State. Rashada was a five-star recruit out of high school and possesses tremendous upside with his athleticism and throwing ability. Although he didn’t play much in 2024, his tools are undeniable.

Rashada’s situation is unique. While he’s coming into a crowded room, his skill set and raw talent give him the potential to earn the starting role if he impresses early in camp.

What Rashada Needs to Do:

• Compete at a High Level: Rashada will have to prove he belongs in the competition by performing at an elite level from day one. If he can show the coaches that he’s capable of running the offense effectively, he could steal the job.
• Develop Consistency: Much like Milroe, Rashada will need to prove he can make the right reads and execute under pressure. His physical attributes are there, but his ability to improve his mechanics and decision-making will be key.
• Make Plays in Scrimmages: Rashada will need to take full advantage of scrimmage opportunities to prove that he can handle SEC-caliber defenses.

Conclusion: The Quarterback Battle to Watch

The 2025 quarterback competition at Alabama promises to be one of the most captivating storylines of the offseason. Whether it’s the strong-armed Simpson, the dual-threat Milroe, the poised freshman Lonergan, the experienced Buchner, or the wild card Rashada, each quarterback has a unique pathway to earning the starting job. Ultimately, the player who can best balance leadership, consistency, and playmaking ability will emerge as the top choice for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff.

Whoever wins the job will inherit the weight of the Crimson Tide tradition, and the eyes of the football world will be watching closely. It’s clear that the 2025 season will be a defining one for Alabama’s quarterback position—and the future of the program depends on getting the right guy under center.