Keelon Russell's Florida State breakout should have Alabama opponents very concerned

Last week against Kentucky, Keelon Russell needed the Alabama defense to step up and rescue him after struggling early in the game. They did that.

Fast forward one week later against Florida State, the Crimson Tide's defense needed the young star quarterback to have their backs. He did that.

Trailing 21-6 halfway through the second quarter, the switch flipped for the sophomore QB. The game started slowing down. He led a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive right before a lightning strike delayed the game for a second time. He connected on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Cederian Morgan to cut the FSU lead to 21-13.

Coming out of the delay, an Ivan Taylor interception set Alabama up with a chance to trim the lead again before the half. Russell hit a swing pass to Ryan Coleman-Williams that the junior WR took 46 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-19.

After a three-and-out by Florida State, it took Russell two plays to get the Crimson Tide back into the end zone. After a 40-yard pass to Lotzeir Brooks, Russell fired a touchdown pass to Kaleb Edwards, and just like that, Alabama led 26-21 at the half.

Alabama's defense wasn't done giving up big plays, though. Right out of the half, FSU took the lead back with a 75-yard touchdown drive. What does Russell do? Lead another touchdown drive, capped by EJ Crowell's four-yard run to put Alabama back ahead. And then, the most lightning-in-a-bottle play happened after that to finally give the Tide some separation.

On a 3rd-and-3, Russell took off up the middle and ran 57 yards for a touchdown to put the Crimson Tide ahead by 12 points, removing any lingering doubt about the game:

Keelon Russell looked like a superstar in Alabama's win over Florida State

Alabama was eventually going to need Russell to play like the superstar QB he has the potential to be. We thought he might have a little longer before it was necessary. The way Alabama's schedule set up, you figured the defense could handle things as he got more comfortable. But in Week 3, Alabama needed the transcendent star at QB. And they got him.

After trailing 21-6, Alabama scored on seven straight possessions, including six touchdowns. The only drive they didn't score on was when they took a knee to finish the game.

He finished 23-of-30 for 320 yards and three touchdowns as a passer. He added 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

And in the aftermath of Alabama's 50-36 win over Florida State, Russell said the words that should terrify the rest of the teams on the Crimson Tide's schedule:

"I got a long ways to go. I'm still developing," Russell said in the postgame interview on the field.

He's right. He's nowhere close to a finished product. Isn't that terrifying? He's going to keep getting better, and by the end of the season, he might be as good as any quarterback in college football.

Saturday against Florida State was a gigantic leap forward. The light seems to have clicked on. Things are slowing down, and Russell is morphing into the superstar we all knew he could be after just three games.

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