The Alabama Crimson Tide has its starting quarterback.
According to reports over the weekend from numerous outlets which were confirmed by Yea Alabama, sophomore former five-star recruit Keelon Russell has been named QB1 by head coach Kalen DeBoer and the rest of the staff after winning the battle against Austin Mack.
Sources: Alabama has named Keelon Russell the team’s starting quarterback. He won the job on camp over Austin Mack. pic.twitter.com/ckgiQ4JEoS
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell has officially been named the starting quarterback.
Read more here: https://t.co/yO1M9qD9Yt pic.twitter.com/9fJVMxbgOX
— Yea Alabama (@yea_ala) August 22, 2026
Things had been trending this way for the last several weeks, and ultimately it’s not a huge surprise to see the staff go in this direction.
Despite Mack serving as the backup in 2025 with Russell behind him as a freshman, ultimately the talent of Russell was able to shine throughout spring practice and fall camp, and DeBoer decided the tantalizing upside of the Texas native was enough to give him the chance to take the reigns now.
Russell is the highest-rated quarterback recruit in school history, even more so than Bryce Young or Tua Tagovailoa who were each extremely notable five-stars coming out of high school.
He will still have to prove a ton, but in terms of on paper talent, it does not get a whole lot better than what Russell brings to the table as a thrower of the football and an athlete with his legs.
Russell’s first career start will come on September 5 against East Carolina before hitting the road in week two to take on Kentucky. Tide fans who were already excited about the season just got a whole lot more giddy with the news.
The future is now for Alabama, and that future is Keelon Russell.
