With Ty Simpson electing to forego his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, it opened the door for what will be a hotly contested QB battle in the spring, summer, and fall between rising redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman phenom Keelon Russell, who was the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.
In the day and age of the Transfer Portal, however, especially with as much pressure as is on Kalen DeBoer and his staff heading into a pivotal year three, it would have natural for them to give consideration to finding a proven starter on the free-agent market.
But that thought never really crossed their mind. The staff is comfortable with their ability to evaluate and develop quarterbacks, and they clearly believe that both Mack and Russell are good enough to not only start next season, but also be big-time difference makers.
"I think a lot of people were waiting to see what we do in the portal, and with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, we got exactly who we need," Alabama OC Ryan Grubb told Juliannna Reichenback with WAKA-TV. “They’re two of the best quarterbacks in the country.”
Ryan Grubb called Austin Mack and Keelon Russell 'two of the best QBs in the country'
Alabama's future at QB appears to be in good shape. Mack and Russell will compete in an all-out battle for the starting job for the 2026 season.
Mack has the experience edge as he enters his fourth year in the program. He should be considered the favorite after spending the 2025 season as Simpson's top backup. It was Mack who entered the Rose Bowl in the second half for an injured Simpson last month.
But Russell is a phenom. The leap he could take this offseason could be gigantic. Whoever wins the starting job will have earned it.
Behind those two, Alabama signed newly-minted 5-star Jett Thomalla in the 2026 recruiting class. Much like Russell, Thomalla was an early evaluation win by this coaching staff. He was a lightly recruited 4-star committed to Iowa State when Alabama aggressively pursued him. He then had a monster senior season that saw him fly up the rankings.
That mirrors what happened with Russell the year before. Russell was a low-end 4-star committed to SMU when he decided to flip to Alabama. He was so dominant as a senior that he not only earned his 5th star, but finished as the No. 2 player in the entire country in his class.
DeBoer and his staff have certainly earned the benefit of the doubt in terms of evaluating quarterbacks. And if they're comfortable rolling with a first-time starter next season, then Alabama fans should be, too.