Alabama finally settled its quarterback battle, and that alone changes the feel of camp. Keelon Russell has won the job over Austin Mack, ending an offseason-long fight for the spot left open by Ty Simpson. That’s a major checkpoint for Kalen DeBoer’s team as preseason winds down.
But the quarterback decision only clears the first hurdle. With the 2026 season opener against East Carolina getting closer, Alabama still has a few important issues to clean up on offense.
The biggest one sits up front. The Crimson Tide still has competition going at two offensive line spots, and those battles could shape how the entire unit comes together.
At left guard, Mal Waldrep has looked like the favorite for much of camp, which has surprised some people. Will Sanders, though, missed all of spring and summer with an injury and apparently was not fully healthy for a stretch. As he keeps improving, he could still push his way into the job.
The other unsettled spot is right tackle, where Alabama is choosing between Nick Brooks and Jayvin James. Both are new to Tuscaloosa, with James arriving from Mississippi State and Brooks coming in from Texas.
Those two are trying to slot into a line that already has plenty of new faces. Racin Delgatty is the new center, Jackson Lloyd is set at left tackle, and Michael Carroll is handling a new role at right guard.
The group has a lot of moving parts, and Week 1 is still hard to picture. Alabama would be wise to lock those jobs down soon and avoid another year of heavy rotation that never really found its rhythm.
The backfield also needs help from the health report. Alabama has bodies at running back, but it is waiting on two pieces that could matter a lot.
Five-star freshman EJ Crowell has been sidelined since before Alabama’s first preseason scrimmage. He is expected back soon, but he has already missed a good chunk of time after also sitting out much of spring with an injury.
Sophomore AK Dear was having a strong first scrimmage, according to DeBoer, before getting hurt later in practice. He is likely to miss games, and that absence will be felt after the way he was performing in camp.
If Crowell is not ready, Alabama still has Kevin Riley, Daniel Hill and freshman surprise Trae’Shawn Brown. Even so, Crowell’s talent is obvious, and missing him early would be a real loss.
Then there’s the receiver group, where Alabama still needs a bigger target to emerge. A practice picture of Noah Rogers on Sunday sparked some optimism. Rogers, who came over from NC State, was injured on A-Day, and DeBoer has already said that the injury will keep him out for a while.
If Rogers can return early in the season, that would solve a real problem. Alabama’s other two starting receivers, Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks, are not especially tall.
For now, the Tide may need to lean on other options with more size. Derek Meadows is one possibility. DeBoer said Meadows had a strong second showing, and at 6-foot-5 he gives Alabama the kind of height it needs on the outside.
Cederian Morgan is another name to watch. The 6-foot-4 freshman looked good at A-Day and could be on track to become the next Alabama receiver to make an early impact in his first year on campus.
In Other News...
Alabama Could Suddenly Face A Former Tide Return Decision
A ruling out of U.S. District Court has added another layer to an already unsettled college football calendar, with members of the 2022 high school class now eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27. For Alabama, the practical impact is less about the courtroom and more about the roster board, where another year of eligibility can suddenly change how staffs think about retention, transfers and future depth.
Kalen DeBoer said the program is monitoring the situation and the possible ripple effects, but there is nothing definitive in place yet. Around the league, schools are already looking ahead to how the ruling could affect player movement and future plans, and Alabama may eventually have to sort through the same kind of return decision that now hangs over a few familiar names across college football. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's QB Decision Just Changed The Tide's Outlook
Kalen DeBoer has settled the most watched job in Tuscaloosa, naming Keelon Russell the Alabama starting quarterback and closing the door on a competition that had also included Austin Mack. With the season opener against East Carolina set for Sept. 5, the move gives the Crimson Tide a clear direction under center as the program begins to settle into its post-spring shape.
The decision also puts fresh attention on what Russell can bring to an offense that will be judged quickly once the games count. Analyst Josh Pate and quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis both weighed in on Russells skill set and the logic behind the choice, and now Alabamas next step is less about the race and more about how fast the new starter can make the job look settled. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Early Season Depth Chart Just Got More Complicated
Kalen DeBoers latest update on Alabamas early-season injury situation adds another layer to a depth chart already worth watching. Running back EJ Crowell is making progress and could be available for the opener, though nothing is locked in yet, while wide receiver Noah Rogers is back on the field and moving faster than expected in his recovery.
Lotzeir Brooks is the other name to watch, with the receiver nearing full participation after sitting out a recent scrimmage. For a roster still sorting out its early roles, the return of three young pieces at different stages of readiness gives Alabama more options, but also keeps the first week of camp feeling a little more fluid than settled. [Read more 🡒]