Alabama names Keelon Russell starting quarterback
FILE – Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) warms up before the first round of an NCAA College Football Playoff against Oklahoma on Dec. 19, 2025, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WAKA) – The University of Alabama has named Keelon Russell its starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
The announcement was made on Yea Alabama, the university’s NIL organization, this morning.
Russell, a sophomore, had been competing with veteran backup quarterback Austin Mack for the starting position. They each hoped to be the one to replace Ty Simpson, who was drafted by the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams earlier this year.
Russell was a five-star recruit and the second-highest ranked quarterback in his recruiting class.
Russell played in two games as a freshman last season, completing 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that came against Eastern Illinois, when he was named an offensive player of the week by Alabama’s coaches.
Russell helped win two state championships at Duncanville High School in Texas and was the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Mack is in his fourth year playing for Coach Kalen DeBoer, starting when they were both at Washington. He was Simpson’s primary backup last season, including when Simpson was injured in the Rose Bowl, which Alabama lost 38-3 to Indiana in the playoff quarterfinals. Indiana went on to win the National Championship.
Alabama, ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, starts its season September 5 when it hosts East Carolina. Kickoff is at 11AM CDT on ABC 32.
