Every summer, some of the top college football quarterbacks in America descend on the town of Thibodaux, Louisiana and the expansive acreage at Nicholls State University for the Manning Passing Academy.

The annual camp, launched in 1996 by college football icon and family patriarch Archie Manning, hosts rising quarterbacks from all over the nation, as well as high school players who travel from as far north as Canada. Mr. Manning said Friday that “around 1,450” individual campers and 48 starting college quarterbacks were in attendance at this year’s camp.

Some of the more notable names that have appeared at the Manning camp in years past include Heisman Trophy winners Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels.

Through the years, numerous Alabama quarterbacks have also made the trip to Thibodaux, including Heisman winner Bryce Young, Jalen Milroe, Jalen Hurts, A.J. McCarron in 2011-13, and Greg McElroy.

Ty Simpson, named Alabama’s starting QB coming out of spring practice this year, made an appearance at the Mannings’ annual “finishing school” on Friday. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Texas Longhorns‘ starter Arch Manning, and South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers were among the SEC quarterbacks also on hand.

Here’s everything Ty Simpson said during Friday’s media availability session with reporters at the 2025 Manning Passing Academy.

Simpson on transition at quarterback and Alabama’s confidence heading into 2025

“I just feel like we’re a very close group. Everybody hangs out with everybody when we don’t have football going on, and I feel like we’re hungry and have a chip on our shoulder. The Alabama Standard wasn’t (there) last year, losing three or four games, and we understand that. This offseason has been very, very hard, one of the hardest ones out of my four years there at ‘Bama. We understand that, hey, we need to bring this physicality back in the Alabama Way. So that’s what we’re trying to do and what our plan is in this upcoming season.”

Simpson on his career path and staying at Alabama

“I’m not going to sit here and say it wasn’t hard because there were some days where I felt like God wasn’t on my side and I didn’t really understand his plan. But I prayed about it and at the end of the day, there wasn’t anywhere else where I wanted to play. I felt that God had put me in Tuscaloosa for a reason. I always felt that I could accomplish everything that I could still to this day, with winning a national championship and being a first-round pick at the University of Alabama. And I couldn’t leave my friends and teammates.

“Some of my best friends who are going to be in my wedding one day are my teammates at the University of Alabama. Seeing them on a different sideline, it just didn’t feel right to me, so with Coach Saban’s guidance and the guys who are on the team and go to school there, there was nowhere else I would rather be than the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa.”

Simpson on the importance of setting a tone in Week 1 against Florida State

“It’s a big game. One, it’s the first game of the season against a really good team with Florida State and Gus Malzahn, Coach Norvell and their good defense. It’s going to be a good atmosphere, and in (order) to go 2-0, you’ve got to go 1-0 first. So we’re going to go down there, do our job and make sure we come out with a win.”

Simpson on what would make for a successful 2025 season

“Just be consistent every day. Just try to make sure that we take care of the small things and do our job and understand our task at hand. We can’t look forward to another game or another quarter without making sure that we take care of everything at first. Understand that the moment’s never too big and to always fall back on our training in critical moments. We’re going to be in a lot of big time games this year with going down to Athens, playing LSU at home, Auburn and Oklahoma. We’ve got some very good teams in the SEC. It’s always hard. Just understand that there’s always going to be critical times in the game and to never let the moment get too big. Just understand that we’ve trained for this and we understand everything that’s going on. So just make sure that you calmly and collectively do your role.”

Simpson on what he tried to learn from other college QBs, plus Peyton and Eli Manning

“This was on my bucket list. One, being able to represent the University of Alabama here at this prestigious camp has always been a dream of mine. I talked to Peyton and Eli and Archie just about some stuff that they’ve dealt with, the advice they would give me. But also being able to hang out with the fellas, like Arch and Nuss and Walker Howard, Luke Altmyer. I’ve known those guys since I’ve been in high school. We’ve always kept in touch, so being able to come back and hang out with each other again is always awesome. We’ve been messing around the dorms and went on a late-night Walmart run last night. Being able to hang out with the guys before the season, it’s great. I really appreciate the invite.”

Simpson on taking over for Jalen Milroe at quarterback

“It’s been awesome. It’s what I’ve dreamed of. It’s what I stayed here for at the University of Alabama. I’m just excited. I love all my teammates and those guys have worked hard, so I just need to do my part and make sure that they have confidence in me to know that I’m going to do everything that I can to make sure that we win the game.”

Simpson on Milroe’s performance the past two years

“Jalen is a tough dude, man. I saw some hits on the sideline. I was like, ‘I don’t know how he got up from that.’ And just how athletic and how freakish he was. Not only that, being able to beat defenses with his legs but also making defenses stay true to their zone tendencies and be able to throw it over their heads. I learned a lot from Jalen. He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen to take care of his body. He was always in there at 5 in the morning and taking care of his body in the cold tub or getting treatment. That’s something I’ve kind of taken now as the oldest guy in the room of getting there first and making sure I take care of my body so that I can be able to perform on Saturdays and be able to be the best guy I can be.”

Simpson on what it’s like replacing Milroe as starting QB

“It’s big shoes to fill. You ask Jalen the same thing, I’m sure he felt the same way with Bryce being the first overall pick and the Heisman (winner). So I can’t thank those guys enough because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. Learning from Bryce, learning from Jalen, and I know if I text them anytime that they would give me advice. I just hope I make them proud and that I carry on the legacy, but also understand that I’m just going to be myself and play football.”

Simpson on what makes him the choice to replace Milroe at QB

“I feel like I’m going to be tough. I’m going to be accurate. I’m going to make sure that we give our offense the best chance to win in any situation. I feel like I’ve waited my turn and I’ve learned a lot from those guys, and I understand with my dad being a coach. I’ve got a mind for football, and I’m just excited to be able to play for the university that I love, the friendly people that I love and with the people that I love.”

Simpson on his relationship with LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier:

“Garrett’s a good friend of mine. I was telling somebody earlier that we go back to the high school days. I think it was a QB collective and also being able to talk about his journey and my journey being very similar; about staying and waiting his turn. He’s from Lake Charles and going to (LSU) and making sure he gets to play for he university that he loves is the same thing as me.

“Going to Alabama, Coach Saban retiring and understanding what I’m going to do. Trust in God through the process and understanding that there’s nowhere else I would want to go… Being able to play against him this year, being able to talk to him. Garrett’s a great guy. I appreciate him and his dad and his brother, his whole family.”

Simpson on his thoughts about facing LSU this season

“It’s going to be a good game. This game is at home. Last year, it was loud. I know ‘College GameDay’ was there, so it was an interesting game. It was raining, so I’m looking forward to it. They’ve got a great defense coming back. I know (LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan) does a good job on offense, and Coach Kelly did a good job from Notre Dame and coming to LSU. When you always have a good quarterback like Nuss, it’s going to be a challenge so I’m looking forward to it. It’s something I’ve dreamed about, playing Alabama vs. LSU. Who wouldn’t want to play in a game like that? Hopefully ‘College GameDay’ will be there. It’s going to be a great game.”

Simpson on what he tells people about Alabama in 2025

“We’re going to be the most physical team, but also the most close-knit team because we’re gonna play together. We’re gonna play as one, but also we’re going to hit you in the mouth. Offensively, we’re gonna be very explosive and make guys cover every inch of the field. We’ve got a great line coming back with Parker Brailsford, Geno, Kam Dewberry transferring in, (Kadyn Proctor) at the left tackle. Wilkin Formby, Olaus (Alinen) is coming along and Jaeden Roberts. Those guys are machines up there.

“Then all the wideouts — Ryan Williams, Isaiah (Horton), Germ (Germie Bernard), Rico (Scott), freshmen who nobody knows about yet. And then our running backs, they’ve done a great job. I’m looking forward to this team.”

Simpson on what he’s trying to improve on in 2025

“I’m just trying to be the best guy that I can be. I’m trying to make sure that guys come together and play as one, but also understand that we’ve got to be consistent and we’ve got to be tough and make sure that guys cover every inch of us.”

Simpson shares his thoughts about first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb

“Ryan Grubb, he’s the man. Being consistent every day and bringing that high intensity, I’m looking forward to him calling the plays this fall. I’ve learned so much football from him so I can’t thank him enough.”

Simpson on any differences between Ryan Grubb, Nick Sheridan so far

“No. He’s going to bring his NFL stuff and being able to be on the same page with Coach Sheridan, Coach DeBoer, I can’t thank those guys enough. They’ve done a great job and have been very professional about it all.”

Simpson on staff meetings at Manning camp, closeness with counselors

“It’s been a great experience, being able to represent my university here at this prestigious camp and being able to see guys that I haven’t seen in a long while or even met before. I think about how me and Walker Howard and Luke Altmyer have been friends. Actually our dads were friends before that. Being able to hang out with those guys, and I’ve known Arch and Nuss for a long time. Meeting guys like LaNorris Sellers and guys who will play this year, it’s been great.”

Transcript courtesy of videos shared by WGNO-TV in New Orleans and Crescent City Sports.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football QB Ty Simpson opens up at Manning Passing Academy