Alabama QB battle: Teammates reveal key strengths for Austin Mack, Keelon Russell in competition

Alabama‘s biggest question mark this offseason has revolved around the quarterback position, where senior Austin Mack and five-star sophomore Keelon Russell are battling to replace Ty Simpson as the Crimson Tide’s starting QB. The upcoming 2026 season will be the second straight with a new starter at the most important position after Simpson left for the NFL following his lone season as Alabama’s QB1. The 6-foot-6, 232-pound Mack provides the most experience having served as Simpson’s backup in 2025, during which he threw for a combined 228 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-32 passing in four games. Russell, meanwhile, combined for 160 total yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-15 passing after signing with Alabama as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting cycle, where he was also the No. 2 overall player according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. [ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ] Third-year Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the team’s quarterback competition Wednesday during Day 3 of the 2026 SEC Football Kickoff Media Days event in Tampa, and expressed a desire to have a starter named ahead of the Sept. 5 season-opener against East Carolina. But in the meantime, Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and cornerback Zabien Brown — two of the team’s three player representatives at SEC Media Days — identified the unique attributes that could aid both Mack and Russell in their quest to win the Tide’s starting quarterback job in the preseason. For Mack, it’s his complete grasp of the offense entering his fourth year within DeBoer’s system after following the former Washington coach to Tuscaloosa in 2024. “I call (Mack) the ‘human playbook,’ (because) he’s been in the offense 46 years now,” Coleman-Williams joked on the SEC Network set Wednesday. “Man, he can tell you (it) inside and out. … (And) he just comes into work every single day (at) 4 am — he’s the first guy in the facility and last guy to leave. “And the beautiful part about it is Keelon is picking up on that, and he’s doing it as well,” Coleman-Williams added about Russell. “And it’s just the fact that he’s a sponge and wants to grow — that’s a testament to our team. But Keelon’s ability to just make plays is undeniable.” Brown agreed, echoing Coleman-Williams’ sentiments while also pointing to Russell’s uncanny playmaking ability as a true dual-threat quarterback. “Two amazing guys on and off the field. And they do have different skill sets, they provide different strengths to the offense,” Brown said Wednesday. “Mack, he’s not going to make a wrong decision. And Keelon, he’s lightning in a bottle. So (you) really can’t go wrong (with either at quarterback).”