Let’s be real: for Alabama’s new head coach Kalen DeBoer, getting the Crimson Tide back to the College Football Playoff in Year 2 isn’t just a goal — it’s a must if he wants to keep the hottest job in college football. And whether it’s Ty Simpson or five-star freshman Keelon Russell at quarterback, Bama’s chances in 2025 are going to ride on a first-year starter under center.
The good news? Whoever wins the QB job is stepping into an absolute dream scenario on offense. The Walter Camp Preseason All-American Teams just dropped, and Alabama has two first-teamers at two of the most important positions on the field: wide receiver Ryan Williams and left tackle Kadyn Proctor. Talk about making a new quarterback’s life easier.
Williams is already a human highlight reel. As a 17-year-old freshman, he averaged nearly 20 yards per catch and turned deep shots into fireworks — eight catches on passes over 20 yards downfield went for 434 yards and five touchdowns. He might not be the biggest guy out there, but his body control is ridiculous, and he’s got defenders missing all over the place, averaging 8.3 yards after the catch. He’s exactly the type of wideout who can turn an average throw into a big play.
Meanwhile, Proctor is a mountain at left tackle — 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, and fresh off a huge leap from freshman to sophomore year. In 2023, he gave up 12 sacks. Last season? Just three. That kind of protection means Simpson (or Russell) will actually have time to find open receivers instead of running for his life.
Sure, Alabama’s offensive line is going through some changes with two starters gone — left guard Tyler Booker left for the NFL, and right tackle Elijah Pritchett transferred — but with Proctor locking down the blindside and center Parker Brailsford holding things down in the middle, the Tide’s new QB should feel confident stepping up in the pocket.
Long story short: Bama’s got two elite talents in Williams and Proctor, and that gives Ty Simpson or whoever wins the job a perfect setup. Even with questions at quarterback and new faces on the line, Alabama’s offense looks ready to roll. And if those two stars play like All-Americans, the Tide won’t need their quarterback to be a Heisman contender right out of the gate to stay in the hunt for an SEC crown.
Ty Simpson’s Got It Made: Bama’s All-American Duo Sets Him Up for Success
