At the University of Alabama, the pressure to succeed is the tax that the fanbase and school are willing to pay for national championships. However, since legendary head coach Nick Saban’s retirement, the team has not reached the promised land.
Last year, Alabama returned to the College Football Playoff, defeating Oklahoma in the opening round. However, quarterback Ty Simpson declared for the 2026 NFL draft and went to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 overall.
Now, sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell is the Crimson Tide’s best hope for success in 2026. He beat out senior Austin Mack for the job over the offseason, with third-year coach Kalen DeBoer naming him the starter ahead of Alabama’s Sept. 5 opener against East Carolina.
CFB Analyst Compares Keelon Russell to Bryce Young
In two games last season, Russell completed 73.3% of his passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, the former five-star recruit gained 17 yards on three carries. Veteran football analyst Jim Dunaway heaped praise on the signal-caller.
“The scouting report on him has always been a taller, more durable Bryce Young.”
–@jimdunaway on new Alabama QB1 Keelon Russell pic.twitter.com/GZfnmr0Dqg
— Connor O’Gara (@cjogara) August 27, 2026
“This was the guy that Alabama fans wanted because of what he was coming out of high school… He picked Alabama and he hung around. Didn’t have to hang around after last season,” Dunaway said.
PREDICT THE CFB SEASON: PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor
Few quarterbacks stand six-foot-three with the ability to not only move around the pocket but also run enough to keep the defense busy. Later, Dunaway detailed the “wow” factor, the knack for big plays, drawing parallels between the starting quarterback and the former Heisman Trophy winner.
“I think that’s what Alabama fans are looking for. And when you hear the description, the scouting report on him has always been a taller, more durable Bryce Young… To think, you get another crack at Bryce Young talent, that has a lot of people excited.”
Russell boasts almost a half-foot height advantage over Young. Now, according to Dunaway, the sophomore quarterback possesses a similar skill set. What made Young successful, in the eyes of many, was a combination of rare traits: poise under rush pressure and a calm presence that elevated his offense.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free College Fantasy Simulator
Most importantly, outside of making every throw, Young extended plays by moving the pocket, allowing his receivers to work back to him. In Dunaway’s estimation, pairing that dynamic mobility with Russell’s size and strength gives Alabama a quarterback they can contend with at the highest level.
For now, the hype is real, but how Russell handles the full-time starting role will only be answered on Saturdays.
