Now that he is not wearing the head coach cap anymore, Nick Saban unreservedly picked his favorite from the talk-of-the-town Crimson Tide QB battle.
Saban naming his former five-star recruit from the class of 2022, Ty Simpson, his favorite, should hardly come as a surprise.
"Ty was an outstanding high school player, no doubt," Saban remarked during his appearance at Nick's Kids Foundation Golf Tournament at Old Overton Golf Club in Vestavia Hills, per the Tuscaloosa News.
"He's a fine young man. I think his example is a true example of development. He matured and developed for (three) years and now he's going to get the opportunity and I think his experiences are really going to help him be successful. We're rooting for him, that's for sure, and I have every confidence that he'll do a great job."
Both Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb have also been dropping hints, praising Simpson's reps more than Austin Mack and Keelon Russell's.
"(Simpson) earned that, okay? Just with some of the nuances and take care of the football and things like that, but Ty showed out a little bit better," Grubb commented earlier this month, signaling a clear favorite.
Simpson has been an obvious front-runner thanks to his experience and familiarity with the Crimson Tide. The only thing remaining to see now he lives up to the expectation, or will DeBoer roll the dice mid-season and let freshman Russell take over.