Keelon Russell will lead Alabama’s offense in Week 1.
The sophomore and former 5-star recruit was named the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback over senior Austin Mack Saturday, according to Yea Alabama, the school’s NIL collective. The decision came two days after the team’s second scrimmage of the fall.
Keelon Russell has officially been named the starting quarterback.
Read more here: t.co/yO1M9qD9Yt pic.twitter.com/9fJVMxbgOX
— Yea Alabama (@yea_ala) August 22, 2026
Russell and Mack battled throughout the fall and spring in one of the team’s most contested quarterback competitions in several years. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Monday that the staff was “close” to deciding on a quarterback and that a decision could be made by next week.
It appeared Russell held the advantage entering fall camp after he impressed throughout the spring, especially on A-Day. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 240 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception and led the majority of red-zone series to end the spring scrimmage.
“Literally, it just feels like a video game when 12’s in,” said wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams of Russell after A-Day.
Mack continued to push for the job as fall began and after two scrimmages, it seemed he was still within striking distance. Head coach Kalen DeBoer said he had not yet decided who his quarterback was after Thursday’s second scrimmage of the fall.
He added that the team “could go in with either” of Russell or Mack as its starter.
Two days later, Russell officially is named the guy.
The sophomore recorded video game-like numbers as a senior at Duncanville High School in Texas in 2024. He tossed for 3,652 yards, a whopping 52 touchdowns and only two interceptions on a 71.5% completion rate, which culminated in being named Gatorade’s National Player of the Year.
Russell flipped his commitment from SMU to Alabama on June 4, 2024, and later won the Elite 11 MVP award, which is among the nation’s most prestigious awards for high school quarterbacks.
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