Nick Saban may have revealed his favorite in Alabama's quarterback competition

Nick Saban still casts a major shadow over Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama football program. His presence still looms large. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and a few photos of Saban watching and listening to DeBoer's press conference on Wednesday at SEC Media Days were a perfect encapsulation of the dynamic:

Saban won't have any say over what the Crimson Tide decides to do at quarterback next season. That decision will be up to DeBoer, OC Ryan Grubb, and QB coach Bryan Ellis. But when Saban talks, Alabama fans still listen. His words carry significant weight.

So it shouldn't be ignored how much Saban gushed over sophomore Keelon Russell at SEC Media Days on multiple occasions. It was as close to an endorsement for one of the players as you could get from Saban. While he made sure to mention Austin Mack and his experience, it was impossible to ignore the difference in his excitement for Russell.

Nick Saban offers high praise to Alabama sophomore QB Keelon Russell

"Keelon Russell, I've watched this guy for two springs," Saban said on the SEC Network, via 247's Mike Rodak. "He didn't play much in the fall. I watched him in two springs. This guy is a talented guy who is a playmaker who can make plays, and whether he's ready to play now or not – obviously the coaches will determine that – he is going to be an outstanding player in the future."

Saban made sure to offer the caveat about the coaches having to determine whether Russell is ready to play right now or not, but it's clear he's high on Russell's potential. He doubled down on that later in an appearance on SportsCenter:

"I do think Austin Mack is probably a little bit ahead in terms of his maturity as a player at the position, but I think Keelon Russell is a guy who has tremendous ability and is going to be an outstanding player in this league," Saban said, via Rodak. "I can't tell you whether he's ready to play now, but I know he's got the ability to be an outstanding player in this league."

That seems to be the best summary of the quarterback competition you get right now. Mack would obviously be ahead in terms of knowledge of the offense. He's entering his fourth year in DeBoer's system. There's a confidence within the program that Mack can play winning football. That's an important factor that cannot be discounted. DeBoer himself seemed to lay out the case for Mack as the potential starter on Wednesday.

But the ability to play winning football and the ability to be a transcendent superstar are two entirely different things.

Saban went through something similar with the 2017 Crimson Tide. Jalen Hurts was a winning player. He kept the floor high. But Tua Tagovailoa was a superstar, and he could smash through the perceived ceiling of Alabama's offense tenfold.

That could be the same decision facing DeBoer this fall. Mack's loyalty should be commended. If he wins the job, then we'll have to trust that the coaching staff made the right decision.

But it's difficult, even for the greatest coach of all time, not to let your mind drift to what things could be with Russell leading the charge.

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