Keelon Russell made needed offseason change for Alabama's spring QB battle

Are you paying close attention? While the Alabama Crimson Tide have gotten quality quarterback play for the most part over the last several seasons, there will be another coronation under center at some point in the near future. With Ty Simpson off to the NFL after only one season as the starter, it will be a pair of internal candidates vying for it in Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Who will win this?

Well, from the early looks of it, Russell may have a real shot at this, based on how he cultivated mass...

Clint Lamb of Cover Crimson shared out the weight changes year over year from the Alabama standpoint. With spring practice commencing on Monday, it should be noted that Russell gained an additional seven pounds of what is presumably muscle. This is big in his ability to potentially beat out the long-heralded physical specimen that is Mack at quarterback for Alabama. What does this mean?

It may come down to whose guy wants it more in practice: Kalen DeBoer's dude or Ryan Grubb's guy.

Keelon Russell aims to physically challenge Austin Mack for starting job

Follow along with this... It will be year three for DeBoer being in charge of the program. He may have led the Crimson Tide back into the College Football Playoff. DeBoer's 2025-26 Crimson Tide team actually avenged a regular-season loss to Oklahoma in the first round at their place. Of course, Alabama was the first team out of the playoff field during his first season with the program in 2024.

What is important to know is that year three needs to be the best to date under him. While that remains to be seen, he is the one who convinced Mack to follow him over from Seattle when the former Washington Huskies head coach took over for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa. Russell may have been directy recruited to Alabama, but he has long felt like he has been Grubb's guy than DeBoer's.

Because DeBoer is Grubb's boss, and this is only year two for Grubb at Alabama, rank and seniority might win out. If it does, then do not be shocked if Russell ends up transferring after next season. Because there is no spring transfer portal window, both guys will be a part of this year's Alabama quarterbacking room. That being said, Russell might offer the higher upside over Mack in all of this.

Since Alabama is not a runaway favorite to make it back to the College Football Playoff like others programs such as Georgia, Indiana, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas Tech are, the Crimson Tide will have to make up the perceived difference one way or another. It is why all things equal, they need to roll with Russell over Mack. He could get to a level that Mack just cannot. Is he physically prepared?

Because Russell is now on the good side of 200 pounds, that gives him a real shot at eclipsing the Adonis that is Mack. He is every bit 6-foot-6 and 232 pounds. Of course, the game has yet to slow down for him in any noticeable sense. It is why if Russell continues to work on his body, he might have the skills to overtake Mack for Alabama's starting quarterback throne recently abdicated by Simpson.

No matter who DeBoer decides on, he will have to pivot fast if the first guy he picks is not ready for it.