No anointed starter, just fierce competition. Mack and Russell vie for the Alabama QB crown, proving who truly commands the offense and earns the win.
Alabama football isn’t heading into next season with a neatly labeled “QB1”,` and Kalen DeBoer is completely fine with that.
With Ty Simpson officially entering the NFL Draft, the Crimson Tide quarterback room is turning the page. And rather than rushing to crown a successor, DeBoer is leaning into what Alabama has always trusted: competition.
In a sport where certainty at quarterback is usually treated like gold, DeBoer was refreshingly honest about where things stand in Tuscaloosa.
“I would say that you always love to go into a season where you absolutely know who your quarterback is, but you know, that won’t be the case,” DeBoer stated. “We’ll let these guys battle it out. Both guys have a year at minimum in our system, and understand what we are trying to accomplish. We’ll tweak what we do around their strengths, and make the adjustments this year to what they can do and what our other personnel can do.”
That mindset might make some fans uneasy, but it shouldn’t.
At Alabama, uncertainty isn’t weakness.
It’s opportunity.
This isn’t a rebuild.
It’s refinement.
Both quarterbacks in the room aren’t starting from scratch. They know the system. They know the expectations. And they understand the standard that comes with wearing crimson.
“Austin certainly knows the system. This is year four for him, and Keelon has shown what he can do putting his nose in there as a true freshman, and really doing a lot of great things as well,” DeBoer said. “These guys certainly have what it takes, and now it’s just a matter of who could do the best job of moving the ball up-and-down the field for us.”
Austin Mack brings size, experience, and tools that jump off the page. At 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, he looks the part and moves better than most quarterbacks his size. If the game slows down for him, and that moment often comes, his ceiling is undeniable.
On the other side is Keelon Russell, a former five-star and one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in his class. He’s already shown toughness, competitiveness, and an ability to make plays when things break down, traits that matter in this league.
What DeBoer emphasized most wasn’t recruiting rankings or hype.
It was simple: who can move the football and lead the offense.
That’s how championships are built.
The Alabama quarterback room isn’t unsettled, it’s loaded.
And the battle ahead may be exactly what brings out the best version of this offense.