The Alabama Crimson Tide have a quarterback battle which is starting to rage on as spring practice gets underway.
While the favorite is of course Alabama veteran Ty Simpson following three seasons with the program and coming close to winning the job two years ago, there’s a true freshman who continues to make things interesting and is perhaps the most intriguing quarterback prospect to arrive to Tuscaloosa in a long time.
Keelon Russell put up absurd numbers at the highest possible level of college football, tearing his way through the state of Texas and leading powerhouse Duncanville to back-to-back state titles. In 2024, Russell threw for over 4,000 yards with 55 touchdowns to just four interceptions, mind boggling numbers for a high schooler.
Whether or not he can win the job as a true freshman remains to be seen, but Russell certainly has his coaching staff excited.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb – who reunites with Kalen DeBoer after going to the Seattle Seahawks last season – talked about Russell and compared him to some of the elite quarterbacks he’s coached:
“He has good wide vision with the field. He can see it even when he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on.”
Ryan Grubb compares Keelon Russell to Michael Penix and Jake Haener. pic.twitter.com/5GILo95CA1
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) March 7, 2025
“He has good wide vision with the field. He can see it even when he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on,” Grubb said while comparing that vision to Michael Penix Jr. who had a Heisman quality season under him and DeBoer for Washington in 2023.
Penix Jr. went on to become a first round selection for the Atlanta Falcons and if Russell had anywhere near the kind of career as Penix Jr. it would be a marvelous development for the Tide’s title chances over the next several seasons
He also compared Russell’s quick release to that of another former quarterback of DeBoer and Grubb, former Fresno State gunslinger Jake Haener, who also went on to make the NFL and plays for the New Orleans Saints.
It’s safe to say Alabama has an incredible talent on its hands in Russell and fans will be eager to see him get on the field.
