Inside the War Room: Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb Opens Up About Alabama’s Intense Quarterback Battle
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Spring football at Alabama is never without drama, but in 2025, it’s a quarterback competition that has the entire college football world buzzing. With the departure of Jalen Milroe to the NFL, a gaping void has emerged under center—and filling it is no simple task. New Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, fresh from a highly successful stint at Washington, now finds himself in the crucible of SEC football, engineering a new Crimson Tide offense while evaluating a tightly contested quarterback battle.
In an exclusive session with media following Alabama’s second scrimmage of the spring, Grubb pulled back the curtain on what has been described as one of the most fiercely contested quarterback competitions in recent memory. What Grubb revealed is a high-stakes, high-pressure environment where talent is abundant, but clarity remains elusive.
A New Offensive Identity, Same Expectations
Before addressing the quarterback battle head-on, Grubb spent time discussing how the offense itself is evolving. His reputation as an aggressive play-caller built on timing, rhythm, and explosive vertical plays followed him from Washington to Alabama. But transitioning that identity to the SEC is not without its growing pains.
“We’re not here to replicate last year’s system,” Grubb said. “We’re building something that fits the personnel here. Yes, it’s my offense, but it’s also Alabama’s offense now. That means it has to meet Alabama’s standards—and that starts with the quarterback.”
Those standards include commanding the huddle, mastering protections, delivering with anticipation, and understanding how to manipulate SEC defenses that disguise their looks better than anywhere else in the country. And as Grubb made clear, those standards are being used to evaluate every snap of the quarterback race.
The Contenders: A Diverse Quarterback Room
The battle features a trio of distinctly different talents.
Ty Simpson, the redshirt junior and former five-star recruit, brings the most experience in the room. Simpson played sparingly behind Jalen Milroe but showed flashes of composure and creativity when called upon.
“He understands the expectation, and he’s grown in his processing,” Grubb said. “He’s more vocal now. We’re really pushing him to take ownership of the operation—front to back.”
Julian Sayin, the five-star freshman who enrolled early, might have the highest ceiling. Sayin’s precision, touch, and natural football IQ have already made waves this spring.
“Julian is the real deal,” Grubb admitted. “His instincts are advanced. He throws with anticipation and doesn’t get rattled easily. He still has to speed up certain parts of his game, but the kid is special.”
Then there’s Austin Mack, the former Washington Husky who followed Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa. Mack has a strong grasp of the playbook, having run Grubb’s system in Seattle, and his familiarity with terminology and structure gives him an edge in understanding the offense.
“With Austin, the transition is seamless in terms of language and concepts,” Grubb said. “That’s invaluable when reps are limited. He knows what I want and what I expect. He’s helping raise the floor in that room.”
The Scrimmage Breakdown
Last weekend’s closed-door scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium provided critical evaluation film, and according to sources inside the program, it did little to separate the contenders.
Simpson operated efficiently with the first unit, completing 11-of-17 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, while also avoiding turnovers. His timing was solid, but he occasionally held onto the ball too long.
Sayin dazzled with a few explosive throws, including a 45-yard strike on a post route that left teammates buzzing. However, his youth showed on two occasions when he misread coverage rotations, resulting in near-interceptions.
Mack delivered a steady performance, going 9-of-13 for 102 yards and a red zone score. His decision-making and familiarity with the scheme stood out, especially in high-pressure third-down situations.
“The tape was good, but not great,” Grubb said. “Each guy had moments. Each guy had corrections. That’s what makes this battle so competitive. No one’s pulled away yet, and that’s a good thing in April.”
The Mental Chess Match
Grubb emphasized that decision-making and mental processing are what will ultimately determine the starting quarterback—not just arm talent or raw athleticism.
“In this league, if you’re a step late, you’re throwing a pick-six,” Grubb explained. “So we’re constantly evaluating how quickly guys are seeing it. Can they ID pressures? Can they manipulate defenders with their eyes? Can they check into the right run?”
To help sharpen those skills, Grubb and DeBoer implemented weekly “War Room” sessions—hour-long quarterback-only meetings where the players are given simulated in-game scenarios and asked to explain their reads, protections, and audible choices.
“These are intense. It’s not just whiteboard stuff,” Grubb said. “We’re throwing them into third-and-long at LSU, down three points, two minutes left, 80,000 fans screaming. What do you do? Who’s the mismatch? Can you diagnose the coverage in four seconds?”
Sayin has impressed in those sessions, especially with his ability to recall details and articulate his reads. Mack, not surprisingly, thrives in the mental portion of the game. Simpson, meanwhile, has grown into more of a vocal leader and is showing command that was sometimes missing in prior years.
Leadership & Locker Room Dynamics
In a post-Saban Alabama, leadership dynamics matter now more than ever. Grubb acknowledged that while talent is critical, “intangibles” like composure, communication, and connection with teammates are paramount.
“We need a guy who can walk into that huddle and command respect—not just from the offense but from the entire locker room,” Grubb said. “That’s what Bryce Young had. That’s what Mac Jones had. And that’s what we’re looking for now.”
Several offensive players, when asked anonymously, described the quarterback room as “hyper-competitive but supportive,” a culture Grubb said the staff has intentionally cultivated.
“This isn’t a cutthroat environment. It’s a competitive one, yes, but also collaborative,” he said. “Our quarterbacks meet together, study together, compete together. Whoever wins this job will have earned it. And the others will still play a role.”
No Rush to Name a Starter
With Alabama’s spring game looming, many fans are eager for a name to emerge. But Grubb made it clear—there’s no pressure internally to rush the decision.
“Spring is about reps and installs. Summer is about mastery. Fall is when separation really happens,” he said. “If we had to play tomorrow, yes, we’d make a choice. But right now, the goal is to give each guy enough reps to prove they can be ‘the guy.’”
Privately, the staff is believed to favor a summer timeline to name the starter, ideally before fall camp begins in early August. That will allow the offense to gel around one voice and one leader.
Still, Grubb left the door open for the possibility that the battle could extend into the first couple of games—particularly if no one clearly separates.
“If it takes until Week 1 or Week 2, so be it,” he said. “The worst thing you can do is rush it and pick the wrong guy.”
What Success Looks Like
Regardless of who wins the job, Grubb’s vision for the offense is crystal clear: explosive, precise, and physical.
“We want to score fast, but also stay on schedule,” he said. “This offense thrives on matchups. We’re going to create conflict with motion, shifts, and spacing. But you need a trigger man who can process it all in real-time. That’s what this competition is all about.”
Asked what kind of quarterback fits best in this scheme, Grubb paused before answering.
“I want a guy who’s fearless. A guy who can make the throw on 3rd-and-9 when the blitz is coming and the crowd is roaring. Someone who knows where to go with the ball and trusts his preparation. That’s the guy who’s going to lead Alabama in 2025.”
Final Thoughts: Pressure Makes Diamonds
As spring practice winds down and the Crimson Tide edge closer to A-Day, the quarterback position remains the biggest storyline in Tuscaloosa—and likely will remain so into the summer.
Ryan Grubb isn’t flinching. The man who helped mold Michael Penix Jr. into a Heisman finalist knows what elite quarterback play looks like. And he believes that inside Alabama’s quarterback room is the next great Crimson Tide signal-caller.
“Pressure? That’s what you want,” Grubb said, smiling. “We’re at Alabama. If you don’t want that, you’re in the wrong place.”
And for now, the war room remains active, the battle continues, and a new leader for the Crimson Tide offense waits to emerge from the crucible of competition.