Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has already acknowledged former Florida Gators signal-caller Tim Tebow as one of his role models. However, Simpson has a list of NFL quarterbacks he patterns his game after and Tebow did not make the short list.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has a diverse group of quarterbacks he patterns his game after. The Heisman Trophy candidate said he models his game after Joe Burrow, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield and Matthew Stafford.
One thing they all have in common is they were all No. 1 picks.
“I really like Joe Burrow,” Simpson said off the bat at his weekly press conference. “One, a coaches son. Didn’t play a whole lot early like I did. Just kind of the way he moves and plays, really like how he does it.”
Burrow, who began his collegiate career at Ohio State and finished up at LSU, led the Tigers to the 2019 National Championship. He spent a total of five seasons playing college football before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.
The next quarterback on his hit parade was Goff, the former Cal quarterback who broke many of Aaron Rodgers records at the school. Goff was also drafted No. 1 overall, by the Los Angeles Rams in 2016. He was traded to the Detroit Lions after his fifth season with the Rams and led the Lions to the NFC Championship game in 2024.
Simpson then spoke very highly of Mayfield, another No. 1 overall pick. Mayfield struggled early in his career and was viewed as a journeyman quarterback until he finally found a permanent home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Stafford, meanwhile, was a throw in, who Simpson sees himself patterning his game to in a similar fashion.
“And then Baker Mayfield,” Simpson said. “A little guy who will do anything to win. Tough. And maybe not be the biggest guy, but he’s going to get it done in any type of way. Very resilient. Those are my three, and you can throw Matt Stafford in as well. I really like the way those guys play because I see a lot of myself in them.”
Simpson wants to have one thing in common with the other four quarterbacks he mentioned. He wants to be a first-round draft choice. He very well could be if he finishes the season as strong as he has started it. Simpson has tossed 20 touchdown passes while suffering only one interception.
The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide will play host to the Brian Kelly-less LSU Tigers on Saturday at 6:30 CT. The game will be broadcast on ABC.