Kalen DeBoer and his Alabama staff are focused on addressing several key vacancies heading into the upcoming season. One of the most important spots is at quarterback, where Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are currently competing for the starting role.
Kalen DeBoer on Alabama Quarterback Battle Between Keelon Russell vs. Austin Mack
With Ty Simpson off to the NFL, Alabama’s starting job is wide open, and the battle between Russell and Mack has turned into a true toss-up.
DeBoer joined Josh Pate on the latest edition of the “Pate State Speaker Series” this week, where he praised the strong relationship between the two quarterbacks and how their mutual respect has stood out during spring practices.
“Keelon and Austin and the respect, really, the way they appear to care for each other, I think is pretty genuine,” DeBoer said (14:25). “They’ve got me fooled if it’s not in a big way, but they lead not together because they’re different, but they really are leading this team. And when they’re out there, both sides of the ball, I think, really appreciate how they’ve approached it. Team first, but they also are doing their part to lead this football team as we need.
“The offense in particular with so many new linemen and a couple other guys and the backfield that needs some guys to step up. You know I really appreciate what Austin and Keelon are doing right now in their leadership role, and at some point, there’s going to be a hard time for one of them, you know, when we do decide and move forward with a starter.”
Mack saw meaningful action last season, stepping in during the Rose Bowl against Indiana and completing 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards. Meanwhile, Russell made two appearances as a freshman in 2025, completing 11 of 15 passes.
DeBoer indicated that the competition is likely to extend into the fall, similar to last year’s race when Simpson ultimately secured the starting role. For both Russell and Mack, the deciding factors will go beyond physical ability, as leadership, communication, and a deep understanding of the offense are what DeBoer is looking for in Alabama’s next QB1.
Commanding the Offense in Spring Practice
Russell has already impressed with his growing command of the offense.
“I try to poke my nose in there and just hear exactly that as much as I can, whether it’s today or throughout the week,” DeBoer said on Friday. “He’s almost to the point now where he doesn’t have to think when he says it, and now, he’s got to slow down to make sure everyone is very clear, which is a good problem to have, right? Just being articulate and not rattling through the calls. At one point, he might mess up the call. It’s not perfect yet because, again, there’s new installed plays that he’s just had the first reps.
“Same thing with Austin; there’s some new stuff he hasn’t called as much either, or at all. And they’re picturing it in their head, and that’s what I like to see, is that they can rattle it off as far as the command with the players.”
In Alabama’s second spring scrimmage on Friday, Mack initially ran with the first-team offense, but the two quarterbacks rotated frequently throughout the session. Whoever ultimately wins the starting job will be tasked with elevating an Alabama offense that ranked No. 30 nationally last season, posting an 81.7 score in the PFSN College Football Offense Impact Metric.
