PADUCAH, Ky. — Martin native and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is less than a month away from having a childhood dream come true, as the NFL Draft gets underway in April.

But until that day comes, right now his focus on the field is all about solidifying his name in the first round of the draft.

After working out in front of NFL scouts and front office brass at Alabama’s Pro Day earlier in the week, then completing a private workout with the New York Jets, he stopped by Paducah, an hour away from his hometown in Martin, to reunite with his family for an event called Faith, Family & Football at Lone Oak Middle School Saturday afternoon.

And it’s only fitting, as right now, Simpson is relying on those first two things to carry him through the whirlwind of the draft process.

“It’s been crazy,” Simpson admitted. “But it’s also a blessing. It’s been surreal for me to be able to experience this. I’ve always wanted to experience it since I was a little kid.”

The process alone can be overwhelming for players, not only having to perform in front of 32 NFL teams, but also managing the media attention that comes with being a quarterback prospect and a potential first-round pick.

An example of that attention, earlier in the week, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky called Simpson the “best quarterback in this [draft] class” on ‘Get Up,’ a video that has been viewed over 3 million times on social media platform X alone.

It all comes following his Pro Day and the NFL Draft combine, where the number one question Simpson says he’s been asked is why teams should pick him.

“I always say the same thing,” Simpson said. “Because I’m a franchise guy. And I know I can change a franchise… Not only are they drafting the player, but they’re drafting the person as well.”

Despite the noise and the opinions people have of him, Simpson said Saturday that he’s relying on his faith to help him through.

“You just got to keep the main thing the main thing,” Simpson said. “My motto is I’m a Christian first, football means a lot to me, but my faith means more than anything to me. As long as people know that I’m a Christian and that the light shines through me, and that’s all I really care about.”

And it’s not just his faith helping him during this time, he’s also using his experience to pour into those closest to him as well. Ty’s brother, Graham, also a highly touted recruit and the 2025 3A Tennessee Mr. Football winner, is about to enter his junior year.

“I got to make sure that I keep him grounded,” Simpson said, laughing. “He’s had a lot of success, especially as a high schooler — a lot more than I have when I was in high school — but he’ll get to experience it one day. And when he’s experiencing it, I’ll be right there beside him helping him through the way. He’ll be more prepared than anybody because what he’s been through with me.”

And that’s because Ty was where Graham is now — a high schooler trying to make it to the next level.

What Ty would tell his younger self today?

“Keep going,” Ty said. “It’s going to be long. It’s going to be hard. But keep trucking, man. It’ll be worth it eventually.”

The NFL Draft gets underway on April 23 in Pittsburgh.