Austin Mack is much more to Ty Simpson than just a competitor in the Alabama football quarterback room.
With 2025 spring practice approaching for the Crimson Tide, Simpson said he and Mack have grown close in their time together in Tuscaloosa.
“Austin’s one of my best friends on the team,” Simpson told the Tuscaloosa News.
Simpson said he was Mack’s recruiting host a season ago, when the former Washington quarterback was in the transfer portal, eventually following Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama as his first transfer.
Since then, Simpson said the two bounce ideas off each other.
“Just, how does he see this? And how do I see that?” Simpson said. “And how did Michael Penix see it, because he was in the same room as him.”
Mack did not see the field much in his first season with the Crimson Tide. The redshirt freshman played five snaps in Alabama’s 52-7 win against Mercer on Nov. 16, completing two of three pass attempts for 39 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown to Rico Scott Jr.
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Austin Mack (10) runs onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Mack was the No. 230 overall player and the No. 16 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
The 6-foot-6, 236-pound Loomis, California, native graduated one year early after recording 3,498 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and five interceptions for Folsom High School in 2022.
Mack and Simpson will be joined by 2025 five-star quarterback Keelon Russell.
But while Mack didn’t see much playing time for Alabama, Simpson said the incoming third-year quarterback has a high ceiling.
“Austin is very smart,” Simpson said. “He’s going to be a very good player, and I’m super excited to see his growth as well.”
