Kalen DeBoer Reveals the Secret to Alabama's QB Battle

The Alabama Crimson Tide opened up fall camp on Wednesday, meaning the highly-anticipated quarterback battle between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack is now officially underway.

There does not appear to be a definitive favorite in the competition, which makes it one of the more intriguing storylines in the country heading into Week 1.

So, what will be the key to winning the starting quarterback job? Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said it's all about how Russell and Mack responded to simulated live-game action this month.

"We talk about response," DeBoer said. "Someone's going to want to play every down, right? So it's going to be something when you're going against each other. You just try and make that as game like as possible. What's the response? That's a live football and momentum: getting it on your side and keeping it on your side."

DeBoer added that both signal-callers looked good on Day 1 of camp and that the Crimson Tide players clearly have belief in both Russell and Mack.

But at some point, DeBoer is going to have to pick a starter.

Russell is a redshirt freshman who seems to be the crowd favorite. Nick Saban himself raved about the former five-star recruit recently, and when Ty Simpson departed for the NFL after last season, most felt that Russell would succeed him.

On the other side of the coin, Mack is no slouch.

A former five-star prospect himself, it was actually Mack who relieved an injured Simpson in the Rose Bowl last winter, and it's important to note that Mack has been with DeBoer ever since his final season at Washington in 2023.

While Russell is a true dual threat, Mack is more of a traditional quarterback and stands 6-foot-6 while weighing 235 points. He also possesses tremendous arm strength.

It seems like DeBoer can't go wrong with either quarterback, but he will ultimately have to settle on one before Alabama hosts East Carolina in its season opener on Sept. 5.

The Crimson Tide won 11 games last year and have gone 20-8 over DeBoer's first two campaigns in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is ranked 11th in the Coaches Poll to begin 2026.