Alabama Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer has opened up on the team's quarterback situation.
The Alabama Crimson Tide have lost Ty Simpson to the NFL Draft, but that doesn't mean they are hopelessly searching for answers at quarterback.
In fact, there was speculation that had Simpson decide to return to school for another year, he may have had to transfer because Alabama already had both Keelon Russell and Austin Mack in the pipeline.
Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke about his team's quarterback situation recently, and he definitely seems confident in the future ... especially after retaining both Russell and Mack.
"It’s huge," DeBoer said of keeping both signal-callers. "Two guys that know our system at quarterback. Just, again, with an offensive line that’s got some leaders that are gone, two quarterbacks that can carry over from last year, what we did and keep it moving forward."
Some wondered if Mack in particular could transfer out of Alabama, but he decided to return to Tuscaloosa for another year.
Now, the question is who will start for the Crimson Tide next fall?
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterbacks Keelon Russell and Austin Mack. Credit: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Mack is certainly the more experienced of the two candidates, as he is entering his redshirt junior season. He also relieved Simpson after he was injured in the Rose Bowl, going 11-for-16 with 103 yards in a loss to Indiana.
The former four-star recruit began his collegiate career at Washington in 2023, but then followed DeBoer to Alabama that ensuing offseason.
Mack has gone 26-for-35 with 267 yards and three touchdowns in limited action thus far in his NCAA tenure.
Meanwhile, Russell is a former five-star recruit who just arrived last year. He went 11-for-15 with 143 yards and a couple of scores in 2025 and is viewed as the future under center for the Crimson Tide.
But is Russell ready to take the reins in 2026?
It stands to reason that DeBoer may favor the 6-foot-6 Mack next season just because of his experience and the fact that Russell still has plenty of more time to develop.
That being said, Alabama may want to take advantage of Russell's supreme talent as soon as it can.
It will definitely be an interesting quarterback battle in camp once the spring starts, and DeBoer will have a difficult decision to make.
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