Alabama settles on sophomore Keelon Russell as starting quarterback
The Crimson Tide have named the former five-star recruit their starter for the 2025 season, ending a competition with senior Austin Mack.
Alabama has named sophomore Keelon Russell the starting quarterback for the 2025 season, according to sources speaking to ESPN. The decision concludes an offseason competition between Russell and senior Austin Mack, positioning Russell to lead the Crimson Tide into their 5 September season opener against East Carolina.
The selection marks a significant shift in the team's offensive hierarchy following the departure of Ty Simpson, who was drafted 13th overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the NFL Draft. Russell, a former five-star recruit from Duncanville High School in Texas, is ranked No. 2 in the class of 2025 by ESPN.
Russell’s path to the starting role was not without scrutiny. He appeared in two games during his freshman season and delivered a strong performance in the A-Day spring game in April, throwing for 240 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound athlete joins a roster that is replacing six NFL draft picks, a challenge that head coach Kalen DeBoer must navigate as the team seeks to stabilise its offence.
The Crimson Tide enter the season ranked 13th in the preseason polls. Their primary objective is to return to the College Football Playoff after finishing ninth in the AP poll following an 11-4 campaign in 2025. The stakes are high for Russell, who will be expected to manage a young offensive line and a new group of skill players.
Runner-up Austin Mack, who began his career at Washington in 2023, remains a key component of the depth chart. In his fourth year under DeBoer, Mack played 62 snaps last season as the primary backup. This included 22 snaps in relief of an injured Simpson during Alabama’s 38-3 Rose Bowl loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
While the report relies on unnamed sources rather than an official team press release, the consensus within the programme appears to favour Russell. The Crimson Tide will face East Carolina on 5 September at 12 p.m. ET on ABC, a match that will serve as the first major test of Russell’s readiness for the full season.
