For Kalen DeBoer and new OC Ryan Grubb, finding a QB in the 2026 class has proven to be a difficult task. It's, of course, no surprise given that Alabama landed one of the best players in the country at the position a year ago in 5-star Keelon Russell.
But depth at the QB position is of legitimate concern moving forward. The plan, as things currently stand, is for Ty Simpson to start next season and then move on. The reins would then be handed to Russell for 2026 and beyond. That likely leaves Austin Mack as the odd man out, and it seems unlikely that he will remain in Tuscaloosa for another year without a path to the starting job.
That means Russell could be the last man standing for 2026 from this season's triumvirate of quarterbacks. Alabama has a major need for depth. They could easily take two quarterbacks in the 2026 class, though that's never easy. They might look for a developmental QB in the Transfer Portal for the other spot.
DeBoer and company have taken swings at some of the top QBs in this class. They, understandably, want more of a path to early playing time. Now, the staff is making a major push for a QB committed elsewhere, and news just broke that he will be in Tuscaloosa this coming weekend for a visit.
Iowa State 4-star QB Jett Thomalla recently received an offer from Alabama, and that appears to be changing everything for him. The communication between Thomalla and the staff has been good, and now he'll come to Tuscaloosa this weekend to see everything in person, according to On3:
After receiving the offer from the Crimson Tide, Thomalla was quoted as saying:
"Iowa State felt like a great fit, which is why I chose them, and now I want to check out ‘Bama because I think their coaching and culture might be a good match for me as well."
Jett Thomalla could enjoy a Keelon Russell-like rise in the rankings
The Alabama offer will have a lot more eyeballs on Thomalla moving forward. He was recently invited to the Elite 11, which is where things really began taking off for Keelon Russell this time last year.
Thomalla is currently ranked as the No. 16 QB in the 247 Composite Rankings and the No. 232 overall prospect.
He has good size at nearly 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds. His junior stats are eye-popping. Playing at Millard South in Omaha, Nebraska, Thomalla threw for over 3600 yards with 47 touchdowns and just three interceptions last season. He led his team to the State Championship and set state classification records for passing yards, touchdowns, and completions.
Thomalla could be getting ready for a meteoric rise up the rankings. He probably won't finish as high as Russell did, but this staff has shown an ability to evaluate, particularly at the QB position. Thomalla looks like another diamond in the rough.
While he's already committed to Iowa State, Alabama is making a big push for him, and he could be on flip watch this weekend.