Alabama’s season opener against East Carolina next Saturday comes with a noticeable quarterback mismatch on paper - not just in talent, but in age, mileage and college football history.
The Crimson Tide are expected to turn to 19-year-old Keelon Russell, a member of the 2025 recruiting class. Across the field, ECU is set to open with 25-year-old Mitch Griffis, a veteran from the 2020 recruiting class - the same class Alabama signed Bryce Young from. Young is now entering his fourth NFL season with the Carolina Panthers.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Thursday that Griffis will get the start for East Carolina, with Miami transfer Emory Williams also expected to see action against Alabama.
Sources: East Carolina is set to start veteran transfer Mitch Griffis, and he’ll debut for ECU at No. 13 Alabama in the opener. Miami transfer Emory Williams will also play for ECU against Alabama. pic.twitter.com/jGjV5trAJs
- Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 27, 2026
That means Alabama has to get ready for more than one look from the Pirates.
Griffis has been around the block. He started his career at Wake Forest and spent four seasons there.
He originally planned to transfer to Marshall for the 2024 season, but instead stepped away from football for a year before ending up at Texas Tech last season. There, he backed up the Red Raiders and completed 26 of 36 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns.
He now heads into his sixth season of college football with 10 career starts, and he brings the kind of experience that usually keeps a quarterback from getting rattled by a road environment like Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Griffis is one of a small group of 2020 recruits still active in college football. Alabama has one of its own in oft-injured 7th-year senior Jah-Marien Latham, who is looking to make a major impact in his final season.
Williams brings a different profile. A 4-star recruit coming out of high school, he spent three seasons at Miami before transferring this offseason. Many around the program expected him to win the starting job, but he enters the opener as the backup while still projected to play.
That setup means Kane Wommack will have to prepare for two quarterbacks. Griffis is the more run-oriented option, while Williams fits more of the classic pocket passer mold, though East Carolina’s offense likely won’t change much based on who’s taking the snaps.
The Pirates did lose a lot through the Transfer Portal, but they’re coming off a 9-4 season and a Military Bowl win. They’ve also built a reputation as a strong Group-of-Six program, and they’ll arrive in Tuscaloosa believing they can make this one a fight for as long as possible.
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