Keelon Russell's continued evolution had Alabama's offense clicking vs. South Carolina

Any anxiety that Alabama fans had coming into this matchup against South Carolina on Saturday night was removed on the fourth offensive snap for the Crimson Tide when Keelon Russell unleashed a dime to Lotzeir Brooks for a 75-yard touchdown.

Alabama went 3-and-out on the first possession of the game, much to the chagrin of Tide fans dreading another slow start.

Fortunately, Russell had other ideas:

You couldn't have handed that ball to Brooks better down the field. A dime.

The rout was on from there. Russell threw three more touchdown passes in the first half, connecting on two to Ryan Coleman-Williams and one to Josh Ford on an immaculate reception by the blocking tight end. A Red Morgan pick-six of LaNorris Sellers stretched Alabama's lead to 35-3 late in the second quarter.

Russell added a rushing touchdown in the second half as Alabama rolled to a 49-18 win over South Carolina to move to 4-0 and 2-0 in the SEC.

Keelon Russell looks like a Heisman Trophy threat after Alabama's blowout of South Carolina

This was Russell's biggest test to date. South Carolina has a talented defense with several future pros on the two-deep. It just didn't ever really matter.

Things started to click in the second quarter last week against Florida State, and the sophomore built on that this week against South Carolina.

Russell finished with 365 yards on 21-of-27 passing with four touchdowns. He added 35 yards and a touchdown on the ground in his most prolific performance of his young career.

It's only going to get more difficult from here. Alabama's next five games will decide the season. The Crimson Tide goes to Mississippi State next week, then Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa, then it's on to Knoxville against Tennessee, back home against Texas A&M, and then at LSU on the other side of a bye week.

Alabama's 4-0 start affords them the ability to go 3-2 in that stretch and still be right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. But with Russell playing at the level he is already, and with better days to come for the youngster, it's also fair to shoot for higher than that.

This is a better football team than Alabama had last season. It's more balanced. There's an effective running game, an opportunistic defense, and an absolute superstar at quarterback.

He'll have some growing pains as the schedule gets more difficult. But it's tough to envision another guy Alabama would rather go to war with than the former 5-star from Duncanville High School.

His best football is still ahead of him, but he's already one of the best quarterbacks in the country just four games into his starting career in Tuscaloosa.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow