Alabama’s QB Room Is Loaded - And That’s Exactly What Kalen DeBoer Wanted
MOBILE - There’s a quarterback competition brewing in Tuscaloosa, but for Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, the real win came before the battle even began.
With Ty Simpson off to chase his NFL dreams, the Crimson Tide are moving forward with a pair of familiar faces under center: Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. And for DeBoer, that continuity is “huge.”
“Two guys that know our system at quarterback,” DeBoer said. “Just, again, with an offensive line that's got some leaders that are gone, two quarterbacks that can carry over from last year, what we did and keep it moving forward.”
DeBoer isn’t just tossing out coach-speak here. In a sport where quarterback turnover can derail even the most talented teams, Alabama enters 2026 with two signal-callers who’ve already taken meaningful snaps and know the system inside and out. That’s no small thing, especially when you consider what’s happening up front.
The Crimson Tide return just one starter on the offensive line - Michael Carroll, who held his own as a freshman last season. The rest?
A complete overhaul. Alabama brought in five offensive linemen from the 2026 recruiting class and added six more through the transfer portal.
That’s 11 new faces in the trenches, and while talent isn’t in short supply, cohesion takes time.
That’s where Mack and Russell come in.
Mack was the clear No. 2 last season behind Simpson and stepped in during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Indiana at the Rose Bowl. Under the bright lights, he showed poise, completing 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards. It wasn’t a flashy performance, but it was efficient - the kind of outing that builds trust in the locker room and confidence from the coaching staff.
Then there’s Russell, the former five-star recruit who redshirted last season but made the most of his limited action. In two games, he went 11-of-15 for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
That’s not just mop-up duty - that’s production. And it’s why he’s the highest-rated quarterback Alabama has signed since Bryce Young.
Both Mack and Russell bring different strengths to the table, and the competition between them will be one of the most intriguing storylines of Alabama’s offseason. But unlike past years where the quarterback battle started from scratch, this one begins with two players who already have a foundation in DeBoer’s system.
And let’s not forget the newcomers. Alabama added two more quarterbacks in the 2026 class: Jett Thomalla, a four-star out of Nebraska, and Tayden Kaawa, a three-star prospect from Hawaii. Both are talented, but they’ll likely spend time learning behind Mack and Russell - at least for now.
The Crimson Tide open their 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against East Carolina. Between now and then, there’s plenty to sort out, especially along the offensive line. But with two capable quarterbacks who already know the playbook and have game experience, Alabama is in a better spot than most programs navigating a post-NFL departure reset.
The QB battle may be just heating up, but the real story is this: Alabama didn’t just retain talent - they retained leadership, experience, and stability at the most important position on the field. And that might be the biggest win of all this offseason.