Kalen DeBoer names Keelon Russell as Alabama’s starting quarterback

Alabama ended college football’s most high-profile quarterback competition when coach Kalen DeBoer announced Keelon Russell will be the starter, according to a report from Yea Alabama.

Russell, a sophomore, beat out senior Austin Mack for the starting role in a battle between players with a combined 50 career passing attempts. Mack has more experience in the offense, having played for DeBoer for one season at Washington and two at Alabama. But Russell, a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, has always been viewed as having the higher upside.

“He’s got a lot of ability. We just haven’t seen it on the big stage yet,” an SEC general manager said about Russell in The Athletic’s 2026 College Quarterback Tiers.

Russell was No. 33 in those rankings, mainly because of his inexperience; he threw just 15 passes last season. Mack served as the backup and was pressed into duty when starter Ty Simpson suffered an injury in the Rose Bowl against Indiana.

True quarterback competitions are harder to find these days in the era of the transfer portal and NIL, when significant investments at the position make it clear which players programs have earmarked to start. Alabama, Tennessee and Iowa were the only teams in the preseason AP Top 25 that conducted a true quarterback battle during preseason camp. Alabama was the first to name its starter.

DeBoer is entering his third season coaching the Crimson Tide. He took on the impossible task of replacing Nick Saban, missed the College Football Playoff in 2024 but reached the CFP and won a first-round game last season. That was followed by the embarrassing 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.

Alabama, projected to finish sixth in the SEC in the league’s preseason media poll, will be a young team. Russell will now be the face of that youth movement.