← See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
Ty Simpson ONE-ON-ONE with David Pollack | NFL Draft 2026
00:23:35
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All right, next we have a guy, Ty Simpson, who's going to be drafted next week. Very early on, I think, Ty, one of the things I always loved about when the draft came around and every year people were like, hey, do you know where you're going? I'm like, are you stupid? No, we don't know where we're going. Like they can't tell us where we're going because then we tell people and it mess everything up. So I'm sure you're getting plenty of those questions. But man, like growing up as a kid, when did you start football and when did you start to really like, love, love the game?
- [01:31]
A
Yeah. So first off, appreciate you having me on here, man. This is great. But you know, my dad's been a head football coach for 21 years. University of Tennessee at Martin FCS School and Martin, Tennessee been around, you know, the program and the game for as long as I can remember going to, you know, games when he played like Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee. So I really enjoyed, you know, being around him and then being around his players and his staff. So, you know, really, I moved there when I was three years old. I promise you. I was there around, you know, six years old, in the meetings, going through practice. And then once I got older, he would, you know, throw me in drills and throw me, you know, it was, I was always a part of something but he wouldn't let me play know football until I was 4 or 4th grade, which was, you know, odd. And I didn't really understand, but now I do. He just wanted everything to be perfect and developed body wise and. Yeah. So I love the game, you know, very, very much. And it's very close to my heart.
- [02:37]
B
When did, when did you know, like, hey, I'm, I'm, I'm going to go play major college football? Like, when was that first moment you got that first letter or offer or something that made you go, holy cow.
- [02:49]
A
So I actually got my first offer in eighth grade from Jim Harbaugh, Michigan. And the way that we tell a story, it's, it's crazy. We were coming back from like a little camp in Nashville and as a, you know, a coach, my dad would all, you know, always have these guys, numbers from, you know, jobs that he's had opened up to, you know, just talking ball and things, you know, like that. And he, one, one day I was like, you know, hey, can I just send these out, send these clips out, see what happens. And my dad was like, sure, you know, whatever. And you know, I sent them to like Dan Mullen, the. Who else? I mean, just number of guys. And Jim Harbaugh was there, of course. You know, I sent it to him and you know, within a few minutes he got back to us and was like, can you bring him up to Ann Arbor? And I didn't know what to do with it, so I just gave the phone to my dad. I was like, you handle this. I don't know what to say. I don't want to mess it up,
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B
but I want to go.
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A
Yeah, yeah. So and so, sure enough, you know, the next week he set something up, went up there, took our whole family and got an offer from Michigan when I was in eighth grade.
- [03:58]
B
That's crazy. That's, that's had been pretty fun, I guess. I guess knowing, knowing that position to that quarterback position. You are a guy that then made the decision to get, you got recruited by a guy that. He was okay at coaching. I mean, he was, he was fine. He wasn't, he wasn't all that. But a guy like Nick Saban recruits you to Alabama and what did that look like, man, when you were getting recruited and where you wanted to choose, where home was going to be, very, very consistent.
- [04:26]
A
And that's kind of who he is, right? You know, it was, it was funny because, you know, I really wanted to go to Tennessee. That's, you know, that's kind of where I dreamed up, you know, dreamed up of going and grew up, you know, cheering for them. That's kind of where, you know, I was wanting to go. But just, you know, with the timing of everything, it just really didn't, didn't work out that way. But Coach Saban had always been there and he always preached about, you know, he didn't throw money out to anybody. He didn't, you know, say, you know, you're going to play. He would always, you know, bring up, you know, just benefiting from the process and you know, being. Creating self value for yourself. And as a guy who wanted to be the best player that I can be and a guy who, you know, wanted to go to the NFL, I felt like that in the infrastructure and the way that, you know, we practice, we worked out there were, you know, everything was top notch, everything prepared you for the NFL and without a doubt in my mind that Alabama was, you know, the, the best in the country when it came to that. And that's where I wanted to go.
- [05:28]
B
Well, and then that's a, that, that was. That. That's an easy decision at that time. But what about the decision to stay? What about the decision is I don't get to play? Man, I. Nowadays we pull the ripcord pretty quickly, Ty, like I'm going somewhere else so I can get on the field. But I, I understand you also had a conversation with coach Saban about, about staying and about what it would look like and then he didn't stay. So that conversation, you know, looking back on that conversation, it was probably a little bit different. But now, like, how is that, how did that all unfold for you? And was that something that was really, really hard at times?
- [06:04]
A
Absolutely right. And I'm sure, you know, you would be the same way as a competitor, you want to play. And that's how my mindset was. I want to play. But I also thought about to, you know, where I was when I came in, came into college about, you know, benefiting from playing the sec, playing with Alabama. And it really came down to, you know, one, you know, I didn't want to go play anywhere else. You know, I didn't want to go play somewhere where the competition was, you know, less than what it was in the sec, especially the SEC west at the time. Two, I didn't want to be at a, you know, on another sideline and look to, you know, Alabama sideline and see my teammates, you know, see Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, you know, Jamari Miller, Jihad Campbell, Jeremy Bernard, like guys who, you know, are very, very, you know, close to me and will be in my wedding one day, and that. That just wouldn't have felt right. And, you know, those were the, really, the. The main reasons why I didn't want to leave. And I always knew that, you know, whatever, I got my shot, I was going to make the most of it. Even though, you know, I. I got a chance to South Florida game, I didn't make, you know, I. I learned from it, and I totally believe that I would have, you know, been better off in that season if I just got reps and kept playing. But I made the most of, you know, everything that I got from sitting and learning and then know, took advantage of everything this year. And then the conversation with, you know, coach was crazy because I literally. It wasn't three days before I was in there, and I was like, how long are you going to be here? Am I going to play for you? And he was like, yeah, yeah, I'll be here. You know, my time's ticking, but I'll be here. And then, sure enough, he retired. And I walked in his office after that, and I was like, dude, are you serious? Like, is that what you. You kind of lied? I didn't say that. I didn't say that. But I was like, you have the
- [07:48]
B
balls to say that?
- [07:50]
A
I was like, well, this is crazy. And he just started laughing and smiling. But, yeah, it was. I mean, my. My, you know, time and career was crazy here, but, you know, I fully believe and I tell teams this all the time. It helped me get to where I am today because, you know, I always wanted to leave a legacy. I wanted to, you know, cement my. My hand and Denny chimes with my, you know, with my foot and. And everything in that nature wouldn't have, you know, happened if, you know, I didn't go through everything that I went through.
- [08:20]
B
So you mentioned all those guys, man, and. And we were hearing all these different crazy things about you, about possibly going to the draft, taking that next step, and then all of a sudden, hey, an nil deal comes in. An nil deal comes in. So it sounds like you're the type of guy, man, you were like, bro, no, no, no, I can't do this. I can't go to the other sideline. But, Ty, there's got to be at some point when you start looking at all those zeros and you go, I mean, at some point. Like, at some point, it had to be some part of you that goes, man, like, was there a number that you finally went, okay, dude, I really want to be a. I want to be a. I Want to be. I want to be a Bama player forever. But was there ever a number that kind of. That's a big number.
- [09:02]
A
I mean, yeah, I think the last offer, you know, was definitely one that I just had to sit down and consider because it would, it would have been, you know, life changing money. It would have made me the highest, you know, played player in college. And it was something to where I was, you know, I was like, all right. Like, I can't just ignore this. Like, I have to, you know, have to sit down and think about it. And that's kind of, you know, how I am. I have to, you know, I don't want to do anything sporadic. I want to sit down and, you know, think it all out. And it really just came down to, you know, how I wanted to be remembered and, you know, how. What, what do I want to do? And I actually talked to, you know, coach about this, Coach Saban, and, And, you know, the things that, you know, he was talking about were, all right, do you, you know, do you want to play football in college or do you want to play football professionally? And he was like, take the money out of it. Take the rounds out of it. What do you want to do next year? And without, you know, a doubt, without hesitation, I said, I want to play professional football. And he was like, well, there's your answer. It was something to where I've always dreamed of it. And, you know, I felt that I was ready to take that next step and be the face of a franchise and lead a locker room.
- [10:07]
B
All right, Ty, I'm gonna take you back in the Wayback machine. I'm coming out for Combines, man. Mel Kuiper's on TV and he's talking about my arm length. Like, they're talking about Reuben Bane, by the way. Like, there's some. There were some kind of T. Rex, and, And I'll never forget, man, it. It ticked me off so bad when I went to combines. And I'm not lying, I'm stupid for doing this, but that's why I'm a defensive player. I, I, Instead of stretching my arms out as far as I could tie, I was kind of like this. Because I'm like, no, no, no. I'm gonna take this and I'm gonna stick it up your hanky. Like, yeah, tell me I have short arms. I can't do anything. This is that season, Ty. Like, is there something that you've just been hearing over and over again and you're just like, all right, I got you guys, like, I've heard this enough.
- [10:47]
A
Yeah. I mean, where do I start? You know what I mean? Like, you know, one. My arm strength, I. That. That always puzzles me. I don't really understand, you know, what, you know, where people think that's that comes from. I mean, I go watch my tape. I make every throw on the field. Outside the numbers, inside the numbers go balls, you know, to my athleticism. You know, you go watch the film. This year we're doing boots, quarterback runs. You know, I. I don't. You know, I choose not to run because I know that I can get more yards checking the ball down. You know what I mean? Like, you know, you play efficiently, like Drew Brees, you know, who's going to be able to, you know, stop you there. And then, you know, my starts are always something that always comes up and, and that's something to me that, you know, I just kind of laugh off because, you know, I'm like, the years that I sat were just as important as the years that I played. And then look at who I sat, you know, in behind. And then look at the games that I played. In all my four years that I've been there, I've played in more than 15 games. I sat behind a Heisman Trophy winner and a first overall pick. I sat behind, you know, Jalen Melrose, who's the third overall pick. One of the most dynamic, you know, quarterbacks I've ever been with. You know, guys who I learned so much from, you know, so much about. They're not, you know, talking about, you know, my dad being a coach and all the resources I have, you know, in the league and, you know, former quarterbacks that I met. So, you know, those are things that, where, you know, it just puzzles. Puzzles me. I don't really understand, you know, where that narrative comes from. But, you know, I always keep receipts, and it, you know, kind of fuels me to keep going.
- [12:22]
B
Last year, man, you attended the draft, like, to support your teammates. Why'd you make that decision?
- [12:27]
A
Well, it goes back to me saying, you know what I mean? Like, I talked about, you know, Jihad Campbell, Tyler Booker. Tyler Booker is one of my best friends. He'll be there this year with me, you know, and when he told me that he wanted to invite me, it's one of the, you know, it. It meant a lot to me. I almost got emotional because one, I know how special of a day was going to be for him. But to, you know, all that, you know, adversity that I went through, all the, you know, times I could have left. But, you know, those guys being the reason that I stayed and getting able to, you know, be there with them when, you know, their lives got to change, it meant the world to me. And so, you know, I can't wait for, you know, those guys to experience it next week with me.
- [13:08]
B
That's cool. Who's the biggest? Like, you can. You can take this anywhere you want to take it. The biggest freak that you saw when you were at Alabama, like, just different, whatever reason, but you're just like that. That dude, it's just. He's not a human. He's a mutant.
- [13:24]
A
Where do I start? Oh, geez. I mean, like, I'll give you. There's so many. There's so many. David, I'll give you one on each side of the ball.
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B
Okay?
- [13:34]
A
Okay. So the first one, I'll go with Will Anderson. On defense, especially going against him on scout team, it kind of was just like, you know, three. You know, three step, get the ball out as quick. Like, it was unreal. And in the way that he went around the facility and was elite, it just. He was different. And then on offense, between Jameer and jc, it just was, you know, you can just tell that they move different. Jameer was, you know, his start and stop and acceleration, it was, you know, some of the best I've ever seen from. From just a physical trait. And then JC was just a specimen because he's six, you know, six, seven. You know, he can run, jump. Like, he just was a freaking nature. So those guys are, like, going to be able to go into the practice field every day, and seeing them was crazy.
- [14:27]
B
I don't know if Kaden Proctor, after last year, would enter that debate with the catch.
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A
KP is a great friend of mine, and I can't give him that satisfaction. I've already gave him. I already gave him enough press here lately with the Gruden thing, so I got to keep him out of the media here recently.
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B
I love that.
- [14:42]
A
Love.
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B
Hey, don't. Don't let him get too high, bro. That's. We. We need that. Keep him. Keep him. Keep him down.
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A
All right?
- [14:48]
B
You're there. You talked about being, you know, you talked about being a backup and the guys you were behind and you got to start, like, what's. What. What matchup, man. What was the team that you were like? I was. I got to simmer myself down, not get too amped up for, like, what was that matchup? Or who was that squad that got your blood boiling the most?
- [15:08]
A
I mean, Tennessee was a special Game for me because that's where I wanted to go. You know, there was times to where, you know, I was, you know, maybe like, trying, trying to get there and, you know, them being. Being at home. We. We lost to them last year. Them rushing the field. Two years on me out of the four years. It just, you know, finally for me to get my chance. I had, you know, almost 15 family members there. Like, it was something to where I was, you know, that. That game meant a lot to me.
- [15:38]
B
Yeah, when you. When you look at your time and all you guys, man, it's crazy to me how close like these quarter, you guys, you guys are at quarterbacks with other people and going to all the Arch Manning camp, the Manning and passing academies and all the different things you guys get to partake in. I found it very interesting this year talking about how you talked to Arch before one of the games and kind of helped you study and stuff. How did that friendship start and how much do you do that with quarter with other quarterbacks?
- [16:06]
A
Yeah, so me and Arch have been friends for. For a long time. You know, it started we work out with David Morris. It got us, you know, introduced to each other, and, you know, we've kept in touch ever since, you know, through recruiting, you know, playing. And it's really just, you know, a great resource to have because, you know, one, we, you know, we talk to each other, we kind of debrief about how the week went, how the game went. Two, we help each other in a. In a. In a way of like, you know, hey, you know, I'm playing. You know, I think that week it was Oklahoma and, you know, the week before it was Georgia. So, you know, we talk about, you know, things to get ready for. But, you know, three, we also, we're also there for each other. You know, I felt like, you know, this year especially, you know, our friendship got, you know, closer because, you know, we were going through, you know, some of the same struggles, you know, just, you know, just trying to be, you know, jump over adversity and trying to just keep playing and especially know, give credit, you know, to Arch, you know, he. With. With his name, you know, comes a lot of, you know, praise and a lot. A lot of blame. And so, you know, I can only imagine how, you know, hard it is for him. But, you know, one for him to just be there and, you know, always be a good friend and, you know, anytime I can help him, it's great. And, you know, I'm excited for him this year because I know how hard he's worked, and I know, you know, he's going to have a big year, so I'll be, you know, cheering him on. Yeah.
- [17:24]
B
He talked about it the other day, and I thought he was really candid. I thought it was kind of cool to get inside his psyche a little bit. He was like, man, I was miserable last year. And finally he was like, I got to the point where it was just like, screw it, at least I'm gonna go have fun. And he was like, it's amazing. I started playing better. Like, I'm sure there's. I mean, balancing as a quarterback, dude, the pressure versus, hey, man, I'm playing a kid's game, dude. Like, I. I mean, finding that balance, I'm sure is tough.
- [17:49]
A
No doubt. And, you know, it's kind of. It's. What we sign up for is quarterbacks. It's exciting because we know that, you know, at Texas, at Alabama, you're going to get that, but it's going to prepare you for the next level, especially, you know, playing with professionals. Right? So, you know, it's. It's. It's exhausting. It's stupid. But it also, you know, it's good for you because it toughens you up and, you know, you just gotta ignore the noise and none of it really matters. And that's where, you know, Coach Grubb did a great job with us this year. He know, we had a quote in the offensive room, and it was, you know, it said something in the lines of, you know, if you always believe in what somebody else says, whether it's, you know, somebody, what they say, bad, you would be a prisoner to them all. And that made so much sense to me because, you know, if I care what, you know, how, you know, who so and so has me on the draft board or, you know, how so and so sees me in the NFL, you know, I'm always going to be held hostage to what they say and, you know, how they perceive me instead of, you know, believing in myself and making sure that, you know, you know, I do whatever I can be to be my, you know, best version of myself.
- [18:56]
B
Yeah, well, so. So speaking of that, one of the. One of the coaches. I'm not going to name the organization, it was the Saints. And I was literally sitting there in the meetings and they were going me, like, a little bit like, hey, we took a guy at your. We took a guy at your position last year. He was really lazy. And how do I know you're not going to be the same thing you just went through These meetings, man, a lot of these meetings. And communications. What was the. The strangest moment? Or was there a moment? You don't mention teams. Not mentioning teams, but, like, was there. Was there anything that caught you off guard in those meetings? Like, whoa, they just asked about that?
- [19:31]
A
No, not really. Because I'm kind of, you know, I feel like I'm an open book. Like, people know my journey, people know who I am. People know what I've been through. You know, of course, you know, everybody's like, why are you coming out? You only one year starting, and I tell them, you know, exactly what I told you. Like, I'm a franchise guy. I'm ready to take the next step. And, you know, I feel like at 23 years old, my chapter at Alabama closed. You know, one thing that, you know, everybody. Everybody was, you know, I guess, hounding me about would be like, you know, why didn't you start the. The two years, you know, before? And it was something to where, Right. Like, do I feel like I could have started? Yeah, absolutely. Do I feel like I could have helped the team? For sure. But it wasn't up to me. It was up to the coaches, and I wasn't going to sit there and, you know, complain and be upset and be a locker room lawyer and, you know, hurt our team. My job at that time was to be the backup quarterback to Jalen, to help him and to help my teammates win games. And when my number was called, I was going to make sure that I was going to, you know, make the most of it, because the year before, in 2023, my number got called and I didn't make the most of it. So it's just something that you have to learn, you have to understand, but also know that, you know, you got to be a man, you got to be a good teammate and understand you got to keep this team together no matter what. You know, String, you are.
- [20:48]
B
That's awesome, man. It's fun to listen to you talk. It's fun to listen to you talk about your faith and what inspires you and what you're made of. Dude, it's. It's. It's going to be impressive to take the next step. When I was coming out, man, I was very competitive with the other people at my position. It's natural. We're competitors. Like, that has to happen. So, you know, Mendoza, like, knocking you out of the College Football Playoff like that, I'm sure that that goes into it now. It's a draft conversation, and you're competing against him and, like, do you look at it like that, like it's, it's a competition or do you like, listen, man, I, I can't, I can't worry about that. I'm not worried about. Worried about where I get drafted or. Do you want to be the number one guy off the board? Like, I like. How does that work in your head?
- [21:28]
A
Well, of course I want to be the number one guy off the board. I feel like that, you know, that's, you know, any competitor wants to be that way, but I've gotten trouble in the past of comparing myself to others, and that's always detrimental. You know, Coach Saban would always talk to me about, you know, being outcome oriented and not process oriented. You know, an outcome oriented means, you know, as a guy, you know, that you always care about, you know, the outlook of it, you know, the scoreboard, you know, how people perceive you. You know, everything, everything in, in that bubble. And it got me in trouble a lot. Instead of being process oriented and going through each day, in each rep, know, getting better, having purpose, you know, understanding that, you know, you're not going to be ready on Monday of game week, then you are on Friday. And that's something that, you know, I have to, you know, take in this draft process of. I get it. Like, everybody has these question mark. I'm a polarizing player, but I just know that wherever I go, I'm gonna put my head down and work. I'm gonna be a process guy and get better each day that I'm in a building. So I know when, you know, that team needs me, that I'm going to be ready. And, you know, the cream always rises to the top. You know what I mean? So, you know, wherever I go, whatever organization is lucky to get me, they're going to get a, they're going to get a dude who's, you know, ready to take over the franchise and make their team better.
- [22:49]
B
What. What is one thing and I'll get you out of here. What's one thing? What's the one thing you've been working on the most tied that about your game that, that you think had to get better before you got to the NFL.
- [23:00]
A
You know, I, I always feel like my feet are, are a huge part. You know, it could be honestly the best part of my game, but it also can be. Also can be the worst part of my game, whether it's, you know, hopping the back end. What I mean by that is, you know, very like, you know, as a quarterback, you want to play in, you know, play in Little space that you can because the rush is coming. As a defensive guy, you understand you're coming up field, but instead of taking three feet, you want to take three inches. So always just being calm in the back end is very, you know, that. That's a big, big thing to me. And then, you know, just understanding that, you know, I need to get better in my deep ball of, you know, understanding, you know, when to. When to throw it over the shoulder or when to, you know, lacing in there like a cover two hole shot or, you know, when to throw, you know, it over backers. Just anything in that, you know, game like, game like reps is, you know, everything that I could work on to, you know, take my game to the next level.
- [23:53]
B
Yeah, one thing we saw you do last year, man, better than everybody in the country, was throw the ball over the middle of the field. You talked about at the start, man, like, you were not afraid so many. You see these offenses, man, they're like, wait a minute, if I throw it here and I'm short, it could be a pick. If it's long, it could be a pick. I'm going to live on the edges and just play that game. Alabama trusted you to do more than that. And they were great. They were great. It was great to see you, man. It was great to catch up with you. Keep doing your thing at the next level and keep working hard and next week, man, enjoy it. What a, What a cool week, man. You. You've worked for a long time for this, man. Spend the times with those that, that you love and tell them thank you because they're a lot of the reason why you got there, big dog.
- [24:32]
A
No doubt. Appreciate you, David. This is awesome. Take care.
- [24:34]
B
Yes, man. Have a good one, bro.
- [24:38]
A
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