Alabama's quarterback competition is heating up, but the players are keeping their cards close to the vest. The Crimson Tide's battle for the starting QB spot remains a hot topic, yet details are scarce, especially when it comes to on-field insights.
Sophomore tight end Kaleb Edwards shared his thoughts after Tuesday's practice, highlighting the work ethic of both contenders. “They’re both just hard-working,” Edwards said. “Just putting their head down, grinding like all of us.”
Edwards didn't tip his hand about whether he favors redshirt junior Austin Mack or redshirt freshman Keelon Russell. The closest he got to a scouting report was reminiscing about their high school basketball days in California. Edwards’ Oak Ridge High once faced Mack’s Folsom, and he recalled, “We did beat them that game sophomore year.”
Looking at last season, Mack saw action in four games, completing 24 of 34 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. His most significant contribution came during the Rose Bowl when he stepped in for an injured Ty Simpson, completing 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards and leading Alabama to its only score in a tough 38-3 loss to Indiana.
Russell, on the other hand, played in two games, showcasing his five-star talent by completing 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 17 yards on three carries during late-game appearances against Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois.
Despite Mack leading the charge in camp, there's been little clarity on who might pull ahead in the QB race, even five practices into spring.
Cornerback Zabien Brown put it succinctly when asked about the ongoing battle: “That’s not something we think about too much. We focus on formations, personnel, receivers, stuff like that. We’re only in practice five.”
With Alabama wrapping up its fifth of 15 spring practices on Tuesday, the team will take a break for Pro Day on Wednesday before getting back to work on Thursday. The suspense continues, and fans are eager to see who will emerge as the Tide's leader under center.