Ryan Coleman-Williams isn’t sitting around waiting for Alabama to hand him a quarterback decision. He’s already seen enough from Austin Mack and Keelon Russell to feel good about either one leading the Crimson Tide offense.
At 2026 SEC Media Days in Tampa, Fla., Coleman-Williams described a quarterback room that has been developing together all spring and summer, with both passers pushing each other as they go.
“Just the way they command the offense, lead their room without having the experience of playing, but learning from guys that were (before) them,” Coleman-Williams said.
He said the competition has looked less like a traditional quarterback battle and more like the rest of the skill group, with each session helping both players grow.
Coleman-Williams had especially high praise for Mack, calling him “the human playbook” because of how quickly he processes what’s coming next. He said Russell has shown the same kind of rapid development, noting that Russell has “picked up the playbook so fast,” while also flashing strong playmaking ability in limited reps.
From Coleman-Williams’ perspective, the timing of the decision doesn’t change his job. He said he’s comfortable with whichever quarterback gets the nod, and he’s confident the offense will be ready when the coaches make their call.
“Honestly, I'm behind whatever time our coaches choose, obviously,” Coleman-Williams said. “We've been building a relationship individually between both quarterbacks, so I'm confident in either one. Whenever that time comes, I know we'll be ready.”
Alabama opens the 2026 season against East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 5 on ABC.
In Other News...
Alabama Star Ryan Coleman-Williams Makes Jersey Change About Legacy
A small jersey tweak can carry a lot of meaning in Tuscaloosa, and Ryan Coleman-Williams made his own adjustment with that in mind. The Alabama wide receiver changed the name on the back of his jersey from Williams to Coleman-Williams, a move meant to reflect his full birth name and bring his family legacy more clearly into view. He also switched from No. 2 to No. 1, the number he wore in high school, adding another personal touch to a change rooted in identity as much as football.
The timing fits with a broader conversation inside the program about what players want to leave behind, after a team meeting with Nick Saban centered on legacy. For Coleman-Williams, the decision was tied to family history and the weight of carrying the Coleman name forward, a detail that gives the uniform change a little more resonance than the usual offseason number swap. It is the kind of move that says something about where a player feels he comes from, even before he makes his next catch. [Read more 🡒]
Kalen DeBoer Just Zeroed In On Alabamas Biggest Offensive Problem
Alabamas offseason conversation has centered on the same place it so often does when the Crimson Tide want to get back to their standard: the line of scrimmage. At SEC Media Days, Kalen DeBoer made it clear the staff is putting a premium on getting the rushing offense moving again in 2026, a priority that carries extra weight after a 2025 season in which Alabamas ground game never really found traction.
The numbers told the story, with the Tide averaging just 3.25 yards per rush and landing near the bottom of both the SEC and the national rushing charts. Alabama is hoping the answer comes from two directions at once, with current backs taking another step forward and incoming offensive line help giving the run game a better foundation, but the real test will be whether those pieces turn emphasis into production. [Read more 🡒]