New Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterback Keelon Russell is no 'flying under the radar' guy. Much of the college football world respects Keelon's potential. Still, potential does not produce touchdowns or wins. Russell will have to prove himself behind a rebuilt Alabama offensive line that has even more to prove than the Crimson Tide's sophomore quarterback. Alabama fans anticipate superstardom for Keelon, but he doesn't have to be sensational for Alabama to succeed.
The preseason Manning Award Watch List includes 40 top college football quarterbacks. Keelon Russell is not one of them. His exclusion is not a snub. Only one of the 40 has passed for fewer than 2,000 yards. More than half have over 3,000 career passing yards. In Keelon Russell's 37 college snaps, he has passed for 143 yards.
The Manning Award Watch List will change multiple times before the winner is named. Alabama football fans may not predict that Keelon will win it, but many expect him to be on the mid-season Watch List.
Rankings for Keelon Russell neither a 'snub' nor a 'slight'
Two recent quarterback rankings did not snub Keelon. USA Today ranked Russell at No. 25 among FBS QBs. The eight SEC quarterbacks ranked above him all have considerable playing experience. Athlon ranked Russell the SEC's sixth-best quarterback and stated that Keelon's "upside is enormous."
Individual awards are worthy honors, but team results matter much more. The main measures of Keelon Russell will be Alabama wins and postseason results. If Athlon's rankings prove to be accurate, only three Crimson Tide opponents have better quarterbacks than Alabama: Georgia's Gunner Stockton, LSU's Sam Leavitt, and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, ranked No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5, respectively.
Given Georgia and LSU's expected strengths, and when the South Carolina and Georgia games will be played, Keelon might be outplayed by an opposing quarterback in each game. Another 'might' is that Alabama wins at least two of three games, with November's Keelon outplaying Leavitt in Baton Rouge.
Alabama Crimson Tide fans need not worry about Russell being snubbed as the season progresses. As has probably been said or written hundreds of times in the offseason, Alabama fans' main worry is the Crimson Tide's offensive line.
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