Ty Simpson prioritized legacy over a lucrative offer, opting against joining the Miami Hurricanes' quarterback transfer portal tradition.
The Miami Hurricanes are days away from stepping into Hard Rock Stadium with a chance to win a National Championship against the Indiana Hoosiers. However, the program continues its search for a quarterback next season, as Carson Beck will no longer have NCAA eligibility and is expected to declare for the upcoming NFL draft.
Reports were circulating about landing former Arizona State Sun Devils' Sam Leavitt, who was considered among the top in the open market, even visiting the Hurricanes. However, the 21-year-old committed to Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers. They pivoted and made a late-push for Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson. Despite having aspirations to declare for the upcoming NFL draft, multiple programs sought him, including the Hurricanes.
It was reported that they made a significant offer, $6.5 million, but Simpson expressed concerns over his legacy.
"Everybody would just remember me as the guy who took all this money and went to Miami or Tennessee for his last year," he told On3 on Tuesday. "I was a captain. I put my hand and footprints in the cement at Denny Chimes [a landmark bell tower at the University of Alabama]. I would have lost everything that I built in Alabama."
Those are interesting remarks, especially how successful the Hurricanes have been with transfer portal quarterbacks in their final year. Throughout the 2024 season, Cam Ward led one of the best offenses in the nation, finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy votes, and became the first pick of the NFL draft. Now, Beck reinvented himself after undergoing UCL surgery in his right throwing elbow, leading the program to its first National Championship game since 2002, and has an opportunity to win his third and build up his NFL stock.
Granted, Simpson is coming off an excellent season, completing 305 of 473 passes, which led the SEC, a 64.5 completion percentage, throwing for 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games. He's projected to be a first-round selection in the upcoming NFL draft and already submitted the paperwork, so it's official.
The Hurricanes could attempt to pursue a quarterback who's committed to another program but hasn't signed; the chances aren't always great. There's only one quarterback as part of the 2026 recruiting class, Dereon Coleman. Another option could be developing from within, such as backup quarterback Emory Williams.
It will be an interesting situation to observe as it develops. The future of the Hurricanes is currently uncertain.
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