Ty Simpson

Football was never optional for Ty Simpson. The son of longtime college coach Jason Simpson, Ty grew up breaking down defenses at the kitchen table in Martin, Tennessee, where scheme and structure were everyday language. That background showed early. At Westview High School, Simpson tore through Tennessee defenses for 2,827 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, adding 862 rushing yards and 11 scores, and capped his senior season with a 2A state championship that put Clemson, Ole Miss, and Tennessee in pursuit.

A five-star recruit and the No. 2 quarterback nationally, Simpson chose Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022. What followed was a patience test few elite recruits endure: three seasons largely spent behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. From 2022–2024, Simpson threw for just 381 yards across 16 games, but the flashes were there—an electric 78-yard touchdown run against Chattanooga, a rally spark versus South Florida. When Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb arrived, spring evaluations convinced them Simpson (6’2″, 208 lbs; born Dec. 21, 2002) was ready.

What they got in 2025 was a season that split cleanly into brilliance and caution.

A Tale of Two Halves

Through the first nine games, Simpson looked like a Heisman contender. He completed ~70% of his passes, threw 21 touchdowns with just one interception, and led Alabama past four straight ranked SEC opponents—Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. Breaking Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak with 276 passing yards, two passing TDs, and a rushing score announced him as college football’s most intriguing quarterback story.

Then the league adjusted.

Once Brent Venables and Oklahoma had enough tape, the final six games told a different story: 57% completions, 158 passing yards per game, and ball-security issues that surfaced as fumbles in five consecutive contests. Simpson still finished with 3,586 yards, 28 TDs, and five INTs for an 11-4 team that reached the CFP quarterfinals—despite a run game ranked 125th of 136 FBS teams. Context matters, but so does the response.

SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS

Elite Pre-Snap Operator
Uses motion to identify coverage, adjusts protections, and sets the offense with a veteran’s calm.

Post-Snap Eye Control
Manipulates safeties to open throwing lanes—advanced stuff you don’t teach easily.

Quick, Repeatable Release
Gets the ball out before pressure arrives; mechanics are clinic-ready.

Ball Placement for YAC
Hits receivers in stride; routine throws become explosive gains.

Pocket Intelligence
Climbs, slides, resets—rare feel for space and timing.

Processing Speed
Progresses efficiently; third reads become viable without panic.

Peak-Window Decision-Making
A 21:1 TD-INT stretch over nine games shows ideal restraint and aggression.

Command & Leadership
Owns the line of scrimmage; communicates clearly and keeps the unit in sync.

SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES

Average Physical Ceiling
Arm strength won’t wow; velocity margin is slimmer than prototype passers.

Frame Needs Mass
Another 10–15 pounds of functional weight would help durability.

Inconsistent Deep Touch
Occasional underthrows leave explosives on the field.

Ball Security Under Duress
Fumbles in five straight games are a real red flag.

Limited Sample Size
Only 15 starts; late-season struggles suggest tendencies emerged with tape.

SKOL FIT: WHY SIMPSON IS A HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD BET

Here’s the truth: Simpson is a discipline test for an organization.

He wins with his mind—processing, anticipation, structure—not with elite arm or legs. That means the margin for error is thin, and the landing spot is everything. Put him behind a stable line, with defined reads and patient development? You could get a high-end starter who runs an offense on time and protects the football. Drop him into a rebuild and ask him to elevate chaos? That’s how smart quarterbacks flame out.

For the Minnesota Vikings, Simpson is the kind of prospect who only makes sense with a plan:

• Sit behind a veteran

• Emphasize timing, RPOs, and play-action

• Clean up ball security and footwork

• Build confidence without rushing the timeline

FINAL SKOL TAKE

Ty Simpson is one of the most fascinating evaluations in this class. The early-season tape is first-round caliber—elite processing, command, and execution that franchise quarterbacks take years to develop. The late-season tape is a warning label, showing what happens when support erodes and physical tools can’t compensate.

Grade: Top-10 talent / First-round skill set
Risk: High, if rushed
Path to Success: Patience, protection, and structure

If you believe quarterbacking is primarily mental—and that development environments matter—Simpson is worth the investment. Just don’t confuse his ceiling with his readiness.

That distinction will define his NFL career.