Kalen DeBoer tells when he would like Alabama to ‘for sure’ have its starting quarterback named

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) and head coach Kalen DeBoer talk during a timeout in the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Alabama football’s quarterback battle is set to continue throughout the summer and well into fall camp.

Ty Simpson, Keelon Russell and Austin Mack remain in competition for the position ahead of summer workouts.

The Crimson Tide’s head coach Kalen DeBoer joined former Tide signal caller, Greg McElroy, on ESPN’s “Always College Football” on a recent episode and shared he would like the Tide to ‘for sure’ have a quarterback named a few weeks before Alabama opens the season against Florida State.

“There’s been a similar kind of timeframe throughout fall camp,” DeBoer said. “The last week and a half, we usually have a little bit longer of…We call them bonus practices leading up to week one. There’s a weekend before and then a few days before that. There is kind of when you’d really for sure like to have the starter named and him be able to start really being in sync with his receiving core, gel in that way and really dialing on the reps. But, you know, if you feel like you’re at that point earlier. It’s been a few practices earlier, maybe a week earlier at some point.”

The Alabama head coach also shared a critical factor the Tide’s staff will consider when naming a starter in the future.

“People sometimes get caught up into who’s great now,” said DeBoer. “Who had the best completion percentage? All those things. Those are all important, but I think in the end, it’s who’s moving the ball down the field for the ones, the twos most consistently when you’re here in practice each and every day.”

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