‘Leader of men' Ty Simpson won over Alabama football defense long before he was named starting QB

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Alabama football's newly-named starting quarterback Ty Simpson hasn't just won over his offense. He has the respect of his peers on the other side of the ball, too.
Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson and defensive back Zabien Brown sang Simpson's praises for his growth on and off the field during media availability on Wednesday.
"Ty, he's a leader of men," Brown said. "I'm extremely glad that he's my quarterback."
Brown called Simpson "a guy's guy." Sure, Simpson is exceptional at slinging the rock, and the Martin, Tenn. native can often be found trading crimson for camouflage to climb up in a deer stand. Brown's comment doesn't come down to what Simpson does on a daily basis, but the heart he puts into every little thing he does.
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"Makes you want to play harder for him," Brown said.
To Lawson, though, Simpson has always made him want to give more to the team.
Ty Simpson was 'already' Deontae Lawson's guy before being named Alabama football's starting quarterback
"Ty really stayed down. That just means so much to us, as a team, just to know a guy like that, that just cares so much about this place, about his teammates, it just makes you feel good," Lawson said. "Ty was already my guy, to be honest with you."
Lawson loves that Simpson "just waited his turn," and seeing the veteran come to work every day, growing in leadership and managing the team, has been a "pleasure" for the redshirt senior to witness. Especially as the offense navigates a new look under offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, which Lawson said has created "a challenge" for the defense.
According to Lawson, Alabama's offense has given Crimson Tide defenders "everything that we could see."
"And it's hard because we can't like really scout against them. So they are installing new things every day, but it's obviously a challenge. We're all for it and it will help us down the road, no doubt," Lawson said.
In the backfield, Brown and company can count the interceptions they've grabbed with just one hand, and the sophomore attributes the lack of takeaways to the "chess match" led by Simpson and fellow quarterback Austin Mack behind the line of scrimmage.
"Those guys, they're a real tight knit group," Brown said. "If we're showing coverages too early, not disguising right, it's a lot of checks. A lot of mental games out there."
Overcoming Simpson's mobility is a struggle of its own for Alabama's defensive backs.
"He's checking out every play. He's making his alerts and going like that, it really makes it sharper," Brown said.
Only a couple weeks remain until Alabama kicks off the 2025 season at Florida State on Aug. 30, and the Crimson Tide defense is eager to support Simpson in his debut as the starter.
"He's so resilient and I can't wait to see him shine," Lawson said.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Ty Simpson was 'already' the guy for Alabama football's Deontae Lawson