BREAKING NEWS: Ty Simpson, Keon Keeley and other young Alabama players talk lessons from 2023 season

The 2023 Alabama football season came to an end in the College Football Playoff semifinal as Alabama lost to

Michigan in overtime. Due to the loss, several veterans, including Justin Eboigbe, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Dallas

Turner, played their final games for the Crimson Tide

As with every other college football season, the arrival of winter signals the transition of the team’s younger players

into leadership roles. In 2024, they’ll want to demonstrate their progress and gain more playing time when spring

practice arrives.

AL.com spoke with a few of the team’s younger players during the Crimson Tide’s media day in Pasadena before to

the Rose Bowl. These are their thoughts regarding the things they discovered during the 2023 season.

Somewhat surprisingly, Simpson allegedly decided to play his 2024 season in Alabama. Simpson fought Tyler

Buchner and Jalen Milroe for the starting position during camp, but he was on the bench when the cake was taken

out of the oven.

The redshirt rookie assumed the position of Milroe’s principal backup. He played in six games, but the one that

garnered the most attention was when he dropped the ball just short of a big touchdown run against Chattanooga.

He made a vow not to repeat that learning experience. However, Simpson claimed that his growth was quite good for

the entire year.

“A lot has been gained,” Simson declared. Particularly after participating in the games against USF, Chattanooga,

and Kentucky, I feel like I’ve matured and gained a lot of experience. I believe that as a player, I’ve changed

drastically, and that the coaches and the team both have faith in me to perform when necessary. I’m quite

enthusiastic about the future.

In the Chattanooga game, the true freshman quarterback from Snellville, Georgia, saw action and completed two

passes. Prior to the Michigan game, he was unsure about his future as a baseball player despite coming to Alabama

as a two-sport athlete with ambitions to play the game.

After a strong preseason training, Lonergan found himself in a competitive situation for playing time, which he said

was surprising. He claimed that increasing the game’s speed was the most challenging aspect of the transfer to

college.

He claimed to have noticed noticeable progress all year long.

Lonergan stated, “I’ve been able to draw a lot from a lot of different people, especially coach (Tommy) Rees.” “Merely

being aware of the transgression. It’s been amazing, especially learning how to read defenses better and simply

become the greatest quarterback I can be.

Keeley was a five-star edge recruit when he signed with the Crimson Tide. The 2023 season was the last one in which

he saw the field.

The experience could have been demoralizing for others. However, Keeley, who intends to stay at Alabama, didn’t

think so.

“At the University of Alabama, I understand what I signed up for,” Keeley remarked. “I fell in love with it the

moment I saw it, and I know they can help me reach my full potential.”

According to Keeley, coming up to speed with the playbook was the most challenging aspect of the season. This

season, he had the chance to see Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner play edge rusher, which he thought was a really

valuable experience.

Formby, a native of Tuscaloosa, is most recognized for being the grandson of Taco Casa’s founder. He did, however,

play in three games for the Crimson Tide this season and was rated as a four-star offensive line prospect in the class

of 2023.

Formby claimed that spending time on the bench has improved his patience this season. He mentioned Tyler Booker

and JC Latham as two senior players who have assisted him.

Formby has also gained an understanding of how challenging Alabama’s procedures are.

Formby stated, “I’ve realized that practice has really prepared me for the games that I’ve gotten to play in.” “Practice

is so intense and the players are so talented that I get to practice against them every day that they don’t even match up.”

The way his seasoned teammates responded to Alabama’s early-season setbacks taught him another valuable lesson.

Formby remarked, “They stayed together like a team.” Nobody even mentioned names. They resolved to endure it by

banding together like a fraternity.