Now that the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida have come and gone, optimism is in the air for a program like the Alabama Crimson Tide. Kalen DeBoer had the team back in the College Football Playoff in his second season on the job. While he can win a ton of big games, he will occasionally lose the ones he cannot afford... Either way, ESPN's Paul Finebaum came away rather impressed last week.
Finebaum said during one of his programs late last week that he believes Keelon Russell is their guy.
"In talking to people down there, I came away fairly upbeat on Alabama this year. I think they feel they really like Keelon Russell now. The Austin Mack love affair continues, but that could just be to protect the flank."
He continued by saying the schedule is quite manageable, but the offensive line will have to step up...
"I think this (freshman running back EJ) Crowell, that Nick Kelly told us about the other day, is a keeper. The question mark, of course, is the offensive line. I think the defense is good enough. The schedule is manageable."
Here is the segment of The Paul Finebaum Show where he shared his latest thoughts on Alabama.
To put it simply, it seems as though DeBoer is still trying to sell the Alabama fanbase and the rest of the college football world on Austin Mack. He may be a physical freak, but Russell is the one to watch. He was so green coming into Alabama last season, but he may have the upside and more importantly, the consistency, to win the starting job out of fall camp. DeBoer will make the right decision in all this...
If DeBoer does end up rolling with Russell, Alabama should be able to make the playoff once again.
Paul Finebaum sees Keelon Russell beating out Austin Mack at Alabama
As DeBoer continues to do his part in recruiting and landing five-star quarterbacks, we cannot gloss over this major difference between that of Mack and Russell. Mack was recruited to play for DeBoer at Washington in the Pac-12 before he followed him over to Alabama. Russell was recruited out of high school by Ryann Grubb to come play for the Crimson Tide. There are levels to this sort of thing...
Essentially, the idea of what Mack could be at Alabama seems to no longer be greater than what Russell is already becoming. It may not be exactly this, but the sooner Alabama can put all of its eggs into Russell's basket, the better. He is the one who could conceivably take the Crimson Tide to the promised land, or at least get them comfortably back into the College Football Playoff this season...
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While it does serve DeBoer to keep this impending quarterback decision close to the vest for as long as possible, we all have an inkling what the outcome might be. As long as Alabama can split its two toughest home games vs. Georgia and Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide stand a phenomenal chance at winning 10-plus games again. This is how the program can build up confidence fully inside a new era.
Both quarterbacks will play, but Russell feels like the one that will take Alabama where it wants to go.
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