Copyright AL.com
Alabama football has a Heisman Trophy contender this season. Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson has been the best quarterback in college football so far, and the conversation has begun that he could make a trip to New York in December. During Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference, Kalen DeBoer was asked about the redshirt junior’s hopes. “I mean, in our building he’s not bringing it up,” DeBoer said. “Our coaches aren’t bringing it up. Everyone knows, I think, that individual accolades come along when your team is successful, and especially when you’re the quarterback if you’re winning football games., and with our system revolving around a lot of what the quarterback can do, that will take care of itself if we continue to win.” Simpson has thrown for 1,931 yards so far this season, completing 153 out of 218 passes along the way. He’s gone for 18 touchdowns through the air, alongside just one interception. After looking lost in the season-opening loss to Florida State, Simpson has been elite ever since, making plays at crucial times throughout the year. “I think that’s really the way that Ty’s approached it,” DeBoer said. “He’s gonna get asked questions about it here and there, but I really appreciate where his headspace is.” Simpson will get his next chance to shine on Saturday. Following a stretch where it beat four ranked SEC opponents in a row, Alabama travels to South Carolina to face a Gamecock squad that has won just one SEC game. DeBoer said he liked where Alabama’s focus was entering the game, after USC nearly came back to beat the Crimson Tide last season in Tuscaloosa. “I think there’s a lot of guys that understand, especially the ones that were hear a year ago, how tough of a game this was,” DeBoer said. “And really, South Carolina’s in a similar spot, with the record and the way that they finished the season, and the fight that they have, it was evident. And they’ve got a lot of the same personnel, they got a lot of preseason all-Americans and projected draft picks on that team. And we’re going into their place, going to be in a great environment. So we understand the challenge.” Alabama and South Carolina are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The game will be aired on ABC.
