Alabama
Rams make surprise first-round move, take Alabama QB Ty Simpson
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One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The selection isn’t completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It’s clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.
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The Los Angeles Rams pulled a stunner and drafted Alababam QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)
Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
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The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford’s retirement without skipping a beat.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, now 38-years-old, has flirted with retirement after each of the past two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.
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But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford’s heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Alabama
Alabama football 2027 commit shuts down recruitment
An Alabama football commitment from the class of 2027 has shut down his recruitment.
Three-star defensive end Avrian (AJ) Pauley out of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile revealed his decision to 247Sports on Saturday. Pauley committed to Alabama while in Tuscaloosa for the annual A-Day event in April.
He’s a 6-foot-5, 265 pound lineman that chose the Crimson Tide over a list of finalists including Michigan, Florida State and Ole Miss. Two of those schools were pushing to get Pauley on or back on campus.
Per Brett Greenberg of 247Sports:
“Florida State was set to receive a trip the following weekend (June 5-7) and Michigan was pushing hard to get Pauley on campus the next two weeks (June 12-14, June 19-21). None of those trips took place and now Alabama will be the only program receiving visits before the Early Signing Period in December.”
Pauley is one of three defensive line prospects in Alabama’s 2027 recruiting class, along with three-star EDGE rushers Tyler Younger (Norcross, Georgia) and Jeremiah Beverly (Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa), both of whom committed to the Tide this past week. Rivals lists Pauley as the nation’s 69th best defensive end.
Alabama landed its fifth recruit in the past week on Saturday when four-star wide receiver Osani Gayles committed to the Tide over Washington and Stanford. The Crimson Tide now has 13 total commitments in their 2027 recruiting class.
Gayles was the ninth commitment for coach Kalen DeBoer and staff since May 31. Alabama’s 2027 class is No. 34 in Rivals’ updated Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings. 247Sports ranks the Tide’s class No. 49.
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
Alabama
83-year-old man killed in Alabama boat crash | WKRG.com
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — A Pell City man was killed in a two-vessel crash that occurred Thursday on Lake Logan Martin, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
ALEA stated that the crash occurred near the Interstate 20 bridge at around 9:31 a.m. Gary M. Kendrick, 83, was injured when the 1993 Ranger Bass boar he was operating collided head-on with a 2005 Hurricane Pontoon boat.
Kendrick was taken to the UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, where he died from his injuries. The operator of the Hurricane Pontoon boat was not injured.
The Pell City Police Department and the Lincoln Fire Department both responded to the scene, assisting troopers with ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division.
Alabama
Two ejected after boat crash on Alabama lake
A crash between two vessels on Lake Mitchell ejected two and injured one on Friday night, authorities have confirmed.
Around 7:15 p.m. on June 26, a 17-foot Bumblebee Bass boat collided with a 17-foot Nova Bass boat in Hatchet Creek on Lake Mitchell in Coosa County.
The collision caused the operator of the Bumblebee and a passenger to be ejected into the water. The passenger — 38-year-old Natasha L. Holt of Munford — was recovered from the water and transported to Baptist Medical Center East in Montgomery for treatment.
The others involved in the crash — 24-year-old Duncan Davis of Deatsville and 30-year-old Trevor Howell of Munford, the operators of the Nova and Bumblebee respectively — were not injured in the crash.
ALEA’s investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton and TikTok @sarahgclifton. To support her work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
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