Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell praised former starter Ty Simpson for helping him develop into the player he is now.
Being the starting quarterback at the University of Alabama isn't for the faint of heart. Every decision you make on the field gets placed under a microscope, and there is real pressure to succeed each time out.
But the ones who embrace those expectations tend to become legends at the school. For quarterback Keelon Russell, he is looking to build his own legacy with the Alabama Crimson Tide this season, with his first chance to start.
In his first game of the season against East Carolina, Russell looked good, throwing for 256 yards through the air. Russell also rushed for 86 yards and one touchdown, proving to be the dual-threat quarterback that many raved about.
But Russell didn't instantly become the star that he is. Russell sat behind Ty Simpson last season, learning and absorbing all he could.
Now, Russell has credited the former Alabama quarterback for helping him become the player he is today.
“I’ve never had an ego,” Russell said. “I was always humble. I never talked about my accolades. I never talked about anything that I won in my life. So when I got here it was so much stuff to learn coming from high school to college. The systems change, the speed of the game changed.
“I was hard on myself, you know, coming in as a freshman. I didn’t get the playbook right away. Like I said, I learned so much from Ty. I’m actually glad that I got to sit behind a top-20 prospect into the draft, understand what it is to be a starting quarterback at the University of Alabama.”
Simpson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft following a special season with the Crimson Tide. Russell got to see Simpson's day-to-day activities up close, giving him more insight into what it means to be a starter in the SEC.
Having this experience should help Russell navigate his own journey with the Crimson Tide. There is a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Russell to get this Alabama team back to the College Football Playoff, going further than Simpson did a year ago.
But Russell isn't taking any of it for granted. The sophomore understands the situation he is in, embracing the legacy of the historic program that he now quarterbacks.
Russell's chapter with the Crimson Tide remains to be written, but it's been so far, so good for him. He has a long way to go, especially in his first season as a starter.
But if he can keep up the strong play, he could become immortalized by this fanbase down the line.
