College football analysts list these two Alabama players as dark-horse Heisman hopefuls

After last year’s disappointing 9-4 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide enters the 2025 season with high expectations.

A lot of the disappointment from last year stems from the lack of consistency on offense, which at times stalled under former quarterback Jalen Milroe.

But now that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubbs is back in the fold, fans think you will see a different and better offense this year, which could mean a very good year for new starting quarterback Ty Simpson and wide receiver Ryan Williams.

On3 Sports college football analysts Andy Staples list both players as potential dark horse Heisman candidates this upcoming season.

Williams is an obvious choice. He had a fantastic freshman year, amassing nearly 900 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. Along the way, he had some spectacular catches, which caught the eye of the college football world.

So it wouldn’t be a shocker if he enters the Heisman conversation early. The wildcard in all of this is Simpson. Fans have only seen bits and pieces of Simpson’s play throughout his time there, so you're not sure what you're getting with him.

But rumors are that Simpson is actually pretty good. He’s impressed his teammates and won them over, and looked impressive at the Manning Academy, according to reports. The best thing about Simpson is that he has played before, so he has the experience and the maturity for the position.

Many feel that if he has a good year, Alabama will have a good year. ESPN’s Rece Davis even said last week that he feels Alabama is a legitimate national championship contender, but it all depends on the quarterback play.

If Simpson proves himself to be what many think he can become, he might not only a national champion but also another Heisman winner for the Crimson Tide.