Alabama star quarterback Keelon Russell has pushed himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation this season.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were able to take down the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, winning in impressive fashion.
Alabama won 56-23, shutting down any hope that the Bulldogs had of stealing a big win over the SEC powerhouse. The Crimson Tide offense was clicking in this game behind another strong performance from starting quarterback Keelon Russell.
Russell threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, showing solid command of the offensive unit. But he also rushed for 16 yards and a score on the ground, continuing his impressive dual-threat season.
Behind Russell, Alabama has been able to generate a ton of offense this season, and it has allowed them to dominate teams. Entering the year, there were many people wondering how Russell would hold up as the starter for the Crimson Tide, but he has shown out in his limited time.
Many of the questions around Russell involved his lack of experience, but at least so far, the signal-caller has silenced any doubt. Russell's play has seen him jump into the Heisman Trophy race, and he raises Alabama's ceiling as a possible title team this year.
But the individual question around Russell is whether he can actually win the Heisman Trophy this season. And the answer is yes, if he can keep up these types of performances.
The Heisman Trophy winner tends to favor quarterbacks, which would give Russell an advantage over multiple other players. If Alabama were to remain undefeated, with Russell continuing to shine, the trophy would be tough to give to anyone else.
The big competition for the award would be Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has put together a special season so far. Smith and Russell could be the top candidates for the award right now
Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh has also seen a strong start to the year, but he put up a dud on Saturday. Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney has also been good this year, but both these players may be behind Russell and Smith.
Smith may have the edge over Russell right now, given that he has set all sorts of records so far this year. But being the quarterback of Alabama does have its perks.
Overall, Russell has now placed himself firmly into the conversation for the Heisman Trophy, and if he keeps playing well, a trip to New York City is likely. But for now, the Alabama signal-caller will focus on helping his team win games, and let the chips fall as they may.
