Alabama Can't Keep Russell Off the Field Any Longer

THIS IS AN OPINION COLUMN

Alabama held its annual A-Day scrimmage on Saturday, where former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell dazzled with 220 yards and four touchdowns through the air, showing his big-play ability with two deep completions to five-star freshman Cederian Morgan. Russell also flashed his ability in the run game, keeping a handful of options for himself and running on the ground.

Get our free mobile app

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer told former Alabama linebacker Christian Miller of Tide 100.9 on Monday that Saturday's performance is more of the same from what they have seen from Keelon Russell this spring, and if that's what we've gotten from Russell through spring practice, how can you not declare him the starting quarterback?

Russell looked like a 6-foot-3 version of former Alabama Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. We all remember how dynamic Young was for Alabama, right? Young faced many of the same struggles currently plaguing the Crimson Tide: an offensive line in turmoil and a struggling run game. Young was sacked 39 times during his Heisman season in 2021, and still found a way to throw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns, adding three scores on the ground. Young's junior campaign was cut short due to injury, taking him out of the second half of Alabama's 49-26 victory over Arkansas while missing Alabama's 24-20 victory over Texas A&M. Young returned to action against Tennessee, where, despite a shoulder injury limiting him for the remainder of the season, he still threw for 455 yards and two scores against the Volunteers in Alabama's first loss to Tennessee in 16 years.

The biggest key for Young, however, was the talent at wide receiver. In 2021, Young had Jameson Williams, a Biletnikoff finalist who hauled in 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. Oh, by the way, his wide receiver two was John Metchie III, who hauled in 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. I don't know if Alabama has that production in the 2026 wide receiver room, but where the room may lack in that top-end talent like Williams, it makes up for it with depth.

Ryan Coleman-Williams is a down-in and down-out explosive play threat, Lotzeir Brooks looks like a budding superstar in college football, Alabama has multiple consistent weapons who made plays on A-Day in Derek Meadows and Rico Scott, and I'm not too sure how the Tide can keep freshman Cederian Morgan off the field after his big day leading all receivers on A-Day with 70 yards. If Alabama is in the hunt by October, then the Tide should be able to add Noah Rogers back into the room after his A-Day injury, which Kalen DeBoer said would keep him out until sometime during the season.

This isn't to say that Austin Mack can't compete. Kalen DeBoer revealed after A-Day that the fourth-year quarterback was dinged up, explaining his inconsistencies during the one spring scrimmage that fans and media were able to see. But, in my opinion, Mack's best chance to win the starting job was to distance himself in spring practice, and because of the injury, Russell has closed the gap by taking advantage of the extra reps he got during the week in practice and on A-Day. If the redshirt freshman continues to grow at the rate he did last week, which Kalen DeBoer said was a "phenomenal" week, then I find it hard to believe that he won't lock down Alabama's starting quarterback job in Fall camp before Alabama's season opener on September 5 against East Carolina.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.