With redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, Alabama will have a huge position battle at quarterback this offseason. The two biggest contenders to take the reins in 2026 are sophomore Keelon Russel, and redshirt junior Austin Mack.
Keelon Russell
Russell was ranked as the No. 2 player in the class of 2025 by 247Sports before committing to play for the Crimson Tide. He won two 6A Division 1 state championships in Duncanville, Texas, earning All-American honors and National Gatorade Player of the Year. In his junior year of high school, Russell committed to play for the SMU Mustangs but later flipped his commitment to Alabama the summer before his senior year.
Russell saw limited action his freshman season, serving as the third-string quarterback. In the two games he appeared in, he had 11 completions on 15 attempts, totaling 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Doubts arose around Russell staying with the Crimson Tide past his freshman season, but he shut these down, saying, “I’m 100% here.”
“I came to Alabama to be developed,” Russell said. “So having that learning experience is the best thing, and that just comes with patience.”
Austin Mack
Mack was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. He originally committed to the University of Washington but never saw the field in his freshman year and redshirted.
Mack then followed former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama in 2024. In his redshirt freshman season, he saw action in one game, throwing three times for two completions, 39 yards and a touchdown. This past season, Mack saw more playing time, entering four games and throwing for 24 completions on 32 attempts, totaling 228 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also added 22 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.
Most notably, Mack entered the Rose Bowl in place of an injured Simpson, tossing 11 completions for 103 yards and driving for a field goal on his first possession.
“It was the moment I was ready for,” he said. “It’s something I’ve put a lot of work in to get to.”
Alabama fans shouldn’t expect a decision anytime soon though, as the starter most likely will not be named until August. But to get an early look at these competitors, fans can attend Alabama’s spring game, which will be held in April, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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