Now We Build on Concrete, Not Sand”: Josh Cuevas Embraces Stability as Ty Simpson Becomes Alabama’s Leader

When Alabama officially named Ty Simpson as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season, the Crimson Tide didn’t just settle a long-running quarterback competition—it sent a message of clarity, conviction, and direction to the entire roster. Among those most impacted by the announcement was fifth-year tight end Josh Cuevas, who delivered a powerful metaphor that captured what the decision meant to the locker room: “We’re gonna kind of get solidified now, and start building on concrete and not some sand, you know?”

In that one sentence, Cuevas laid bare the psychological state of a team that had, for months, been living in a kind of competitive limbo. The quarterback room, though brimming with talent, lacked finality. Simpson, redshirt junior and former five-star recruit, had been locked in a prolonged battle with Austin Mack and rising freshman star Keelon Russell. All three brought something valuable to the table. But the absence of a clear leader under center had left the offense feeling disjointed. Without knowing who would be commanding the huddle, routes were run with less rhythm, chemistry between receivers and quarterbacks remained undeveloped, and the offense struggled to form a true identity.

That all changed with the announcement.

Simpson had finally earned what he had waited years to grasp: the keys to the Alabama offense. His performance throughout spring and fall camp had not only proven to the coaches that he was the most prepared and consistent quarterback, but it also won over the respect of his teammates. His calm demeanor, command of the playbook, and intense work ethic gradually pushed him ahead in the competition. When the coaches made the decision public, players like Cuevas didn’t just nod in agreement—they exhaled with relief.

For Cuevas, a veteran presence who transferred from Washington and has become one of the most reliable options in Alabama’s tight end corps, the announcement represented more than a simple naming of a starter. It represented certainty, identity, and structure—the foundations of any great offense. In describing Simpson’s elevation as the moment the team could “start building on concrete and not some sand,” Cuevas wasn’t just speaking figuratively. He was alluding to the shift in mindset that comes when a team finally knows who they’re following.

Simpson’s path to this moment has been anything but easy. Coming out of Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee, he was one of the most heavily recruited quarterbacks in the nation. A Gatorade State Player of the Year, he had the mechanics, mobility, and mental sharpness that made him a prized addition to Alabama’s 2022 class. But patience would be required. Bryce Young was firmly entrenched as the starter in Simpson’s first year, and then Jalen Milroe emerged as the leading man in 2023. Many in Simpson’s position might have transferred. In today’s era of the transfer portal and instant gratification, staying three seasons without a start is almost unheard of for a five-star quarterback.

But Simpson stayed.

He stayed through redshirt seasons, limited reps, and endless speculation. He stayed through new coaching changes, offensive system transitions, and the ever-looming question of whether his moment would ever come. And when it finally did, Simpson made the most of it.

In fall camp, Simpson emerged as the most accurate, the most secure with the ball, and the most commanding of the huddle. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb remarked that if they had played a game the next day, Simpson would have been the starter. That sort of confidence, earned through steady performances and mistake-free reps, stood out in a field of talented but inconsistent contenders.

The coaching staff waited until they were sure—both in evaluation and team buy-in. And it was clear the locker room saw what the staff saw. Simpson didn’t demand the role. He earned it. That made all the difference to a team seeking not just a playmaker, but a leader they could trust.

Cuevas’ support, echoing from his “build on concrete” remark, didn’t stop there. He also recalled a recent practice where Simpson’s intensity caught everyone’s attention. When a lineman jumped offsides, Simpson barked in frustration—no cursing, just laser focus. Cuevas smiled as he remembered thinking, “That’s my quarterback.” It was a turning point in trust, the moment the tight end believed this wasn’t just a quarterback—this was their quarterback.

Simpson’s leadership style is not flashy or loud, but intentional. He has always emphasized accountability, personal growth, and preparation. After being named the starter, he made it clear in interviews that his focus was on getting better every single day and supporting the guys around him. He credited the competition with sharpening his skills and spoke highly of both Mack and Russell, demonstrating a maturity far beyond his years.

That maturity will be essential as the Tide head into one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. Alabama opens the year in Tallahassee against a formidable Florida State squad on August 30. The expectations are massive, as always, but the weight seems to sit comfortably on Simpson’s shoulders. It’s the kind of leadership the team has been craving, especially after back-to-back years of quarterback transitions that left the offense searching for a consistent rhythm.

Now, with Simpson at the helm and voices like Cuevas standing behind him, Alabama looks to be moving in unison. There is an energy shift in the facility. Meetings are sharper. Practices have more intensity. The timing between quarterback and receivers is improving. The offensive line knows what cadence to expect. The coaches are tailoring the game plan with a singular vision. And perhaps most importantly, the locker room is rallying around a defined identity.

Simpson, for his part, continues to remind everyone that football is only part of the equation. He has spoken publicly about how a conversation with his father, Jason Simpson—a coach himself—helped realign his purpose when he was at a low point. After a spring scrimmage in his sophomore year left him doubting his place, his father simply asked him, “How’s your faith?” That question, and the realization that he was trying to prove himself for the wrong reasons, helped Simpson refocus. He began seeing himself not just as a quarterback, but as a Christian first—someone whose worth didn’t depend on depth charts or media narratives.

That clarity off the field translated to clarity on it. Simpson rediscovered the joy of the game. He began playing looser, more confidently, and with a sense of peace that only comes from knowing who you are. That confidence, now evident to teammates like Cuevas, is becoming infectious.

Alabama football has never lacked talent. But the difference between a great team and a championship team often comes down to cohesion. With Ty Simpson now leading the offense, that cohesion is finally within reach. The team is no longer guessing who will throw the next pass or lead the two-minute drill. The trust is established. The identity is forming.

They’re not building on sand anymore.

They’re building on concrete—one snap, one route, one win at a time. And if Cuevas’ conviction is any indication, the foundation is strong, the belief is real, and Alabama is once again poised to rise.