Trust the process. While Kalen DeBoer is often criticized as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, he usually knows what he is doing when it comes to picking the right quarterback to lead his team. He has done it before at Fresno State and Washington, and he will surely do it again at Alabama. After picking Ty Simpson to lead Alabama last year, he should pick Keelon Russell over Austin Mack.
The quarterback decision is the big lingering question Andrea Adelson touched on for ESPN.com
"The only question that matters is a big one. Alabama is one of a handful of teams that has not settled on a starting QB yet, and coach Kalen DeBoer reiterated as much last month during a radio interview when he said he still has no timetable on making a decision," Adelson wrote.
Adelson then explained how this decision between Mack and Russell could define Alabama's season.
"Russell was the No. 2 prospect in the 2025 class; Mack has more time in the DeBoer system," Adelson continued. "The Tide coach, entering his third year in Tuscaloosa, has praised them both for their ability to get the ball down the field and their accuracy, and said they are doing a good job as leaders in the offseason. But there is little doubt this decision could end up making or breaking the Alabama season."
In truth, this is not really a hard decision to make. It needs to be Russell for a handful of reasons. First, he is the only one who could conceivably lead Alabama to a championship this season. Second, Alabama needs to find out what it has in Russell quickly with a loaded quarterback room behind him. And third, DeBoer does not need to damage his elite recruiting acumen by placating to his transfer.
While we should expect for both to play some this season, Russell needs to get the bulk of the snaps.
Kalen DeBoer should eventually pick Keelon Russell over Austin Mack
Although Mack should not be discounted because of his obvious physical traits, the upside is so much stronger with the former five-star in Russell. Alabama legend Mark Ingram II sees it that way. Besides trying everything in their power to contend for a national championship right away this season, it serves Alabama to throw Russell into the deep end to see if he will sink or swim in all this.
It is the idea of how important it is to fail fast. If Russell is able to live up to the hype, then that is fantastic. Alabama should stay in playoff contention for the next few seasons while he exhausts his collegiate eligibility. If Russell is not ready for this opportunity, DeBoer could easily hand the ball to Mack, as well as see what freshmen like Jett Thomalla or Tayden-Evan Kaawa could do this season.
Overall, logic will prevail in all this. DeBoer may not be a perfect head coach, but he is not a stupid one. Every step of the way, he has made the right decision at quarterback. From Michael Penix Jr., to Jake Haener, to Jalen Milroe, to Simpson, he has yet to miss. To be quite frank, he is not going to. He may have recruited Mack to play for him at Washington, but this is the SEC, and not the old Pac-12...
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Ultimately, Alabama is only going to achieve all it can this season by being rational every step of the way. It is why DeBoer has not named a starting quarterback. He does not have to at this moment. Conversely, he has to know deep down inside that Russell has a better chance of playing like Penix than anyone on this roster. More importantly, he will have even more star quarterbacks enrolling soon.
With Elijah Haven and Trent Seaborn enrolling in the spring, DeBoer needs to unleash Russell now.
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