One of the biggest questions facing Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football heading into the first scrimmage of fall camp is whether Austin Mack and/or Keelon Russell can mount a serious challenge to Ty Simpson in the Crimson Tide's QB battle. Because, as of now, it hasn't felt like much of a competition at all.
All indications have been that Simpson is well ahead of the challengers, and something major would have to happen over the next three weeks before the season opener against Florida State in Tallahassee for that to change.
When discussing the QB competition, most have ignored Mack and assumed that if anyone was going to mount a challenge to wrestle the starting job away from Simpson, it would be the 5-star freshman phenom.
Russell is the most talented quarterback on the roster, but it's important to remember that he's a true freshman, and expecting him to come right in and be ready to play isn't realistic.
Former Alabama QB AJ McCarron discussed the QB battle on "The Dynasty" podcast with Chris Stewart and former Tide star RB Trent Richardson. McCarron believes if either QB is going to push Simpson for the starting job, it's Mack - not Russell.
“I love having talk for fans and trying to build it up and everything, but Keelon Russell is not going to play,” McCarron said. “He is young. He is super talented. It’s just not his time right now. It’s Ty, Austin Mack. Everybody that I’ve talked to, that I hear from up there, that’s what it comes down to. It’s Ty’s job to lose, and if Ty just starts playing extremely bad during camp, well then they got to go back to the drawing board and say, all right, well, do we ride with him in this first game or do we go with Austin Mack?
More clarity will come in the QB competition following Saturday's scrimmage
The expectation is that the coaching staff would like to name a starter after Alabama's second fall scrimmage next Saturday. That would be two weeks before Florida State, allowing them to then build the gameplan and give most of the first-team reps to one player instead of splitting them up.
But today is the first scrimmage of fall camp, and should provide some clarity on the QB competition. Simpson may not be able to win the job today, but both Mack and Russell have a chance to mount a serious challenge.
If today ends with Simpson still way out in front, then although the DeBoer might not name a QB for another week, it's probably safe to assume the competition is over.