Alabama quarterbacks struggle in Crimson Tide's spring game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, the two Alabama players vying to replace Bryce Young as starting quarterback, struggled during the Crimson Tide's annual A-Day scrimmage on Saturday, throwing a combined three interceptions while completing fewer than half of their passes.

Milroe, a redshirt sophomore and Young's primary backup last season, threw two picks.

Simpson, a redshirt freshman who attempted only five passes last year, turned the ball over once.

When Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked during his post-game news conference about the value of having those two quarterbacks already in the program versus a player coming in fresh from the transfer portal, he didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement.

Yes, Saban said Milroe and Simpson had a better understanding of the offense having been in it for more than a year. Plus, they've had a lot of reps in practice.

But he also said, «Everybody needs to ask themselves: Are they playing winning football?» And the coach added that those evaluations are ongoing.

Milroe threw two touchdowns and ran for one score, but he also competed barely higher than 50% of his passes (19 of 37).

Simpson, who rushed for 58 yards on six carries, was a paltry 12 of 26 passing with no touchdowns.

«We've tried to build this program here with the guys that we recruit and the people in the program,» Saban said, «but we have had a few guys that have come in and made real impacts on the team, and if we see an opportunity to do that, we're always looking for a way to make our team better.»

Saban said he was pleased with the two true freshmen quarterbacks, Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein, who were the No. 5 and No. 6 rated pocket passers in the 2023 class, respectively.

Saban said that