Alabama’s preseason camp rolled on Monday in Tuscaloosa, and the final practice viewing window of the summer offered another small glimpse into how Kalen DeBoer’s team is sorting itself out.
The biggest storyline remains the quarterback competition, and that hasn’t changed. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are still locked in the battle, with Mack continuing to go ahead of Russell during drills just as he has throughout camp. There was no full-speed offense-versus-defense work during the media period, so the evaluation came mostly from group and individual periods, but the order was still telling.
The Tide’s practice opened under a brutal Tuscaloosa sun, with temperatures already at 92 degrees and climbing. The team was in shells, with helmets and shoulder pads but no football pants, and Alabama’s offense was in crimson while the defense wore white. One noticeable change from what has become the norm under DeBoer: no music was playing.
Injury-wise, the running back room looked especially thin. EJ Crowell and AK Dear were both out with injuries, leaving a smaller group to work through drills. The backs rotated through at least one period in this order: Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, Trae’Shawn Brown, Khalifa Keith and J’Alan Terry.
There was better news at receiver. Lotzeir Brooks was back on the field, dressed out and appearing to take part fully in drills after missing Alabama’s Thursday scrimmage.
The offensive line and tight ends spent part of the day together in a blocking drill during the sixth period, with starting left tackle Jackson Lloyd paired up with Mack Sutter. Later, in the seventh period, Nick Brooks appeared to be working with the top offensive line unit at right tackle.
He’s in the mix with Jayvin James, who had been with the first group at other points in camp. At left guard, Mal Waldrep remained in the top spot while continuing his competition with Will Sanders.
DeBoer also spent a significant amount of time with Alabama’s defense during the viewing periods. On that side of the ball, Southern Cal transfer Devan Thompkins looked to be taking charge vocally with a group of defensive linemen and edge-rushers during one drill.
The observation ended after the seventh period. Alabama is back at it Tuesday, will scrimmage again Thursday, and opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium against East Carolina.
In Other News...
Alabama Already Faces An EJ Crowell Question It Didn't Want
A lower-body injury has put freshman Alabama running back EJ Crowell on the shelf just as the preseason competition is starting to sharpen, and the timing is less than ideal for a player the Tide have been eager to see in a fuller role. Crowell missed Thursdays scrimmage and Mondays practice, another brief setback in a stop-and-start arrival that has already included injury issues since he got to campus.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has tried to keep the focus on the long view, expressing optimism that Crowell will be back soon and should be ready for the season opener. For Alabama, the hope is simple enough: get the freshman healthy, get him on the field, and find out whether the flashes he has shown when available can translate into something more meaningful once the games begin to count. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's QB Battle May Be Reaching A Brutal Week For Austin Mack
The quarterback competition at Alabama has reached the point where the calendar may matter almost as much as the reps. Kalen DeBoer has made clear he would like to settle the job soon after the final fall camp scrimmage, with the staff trying to give the offense some much-needed continuity before the season begins. For now, the battle is centered on Austin Mack, a fourth-year player, and Keelon Russell, the sophomore who has worked himself into the thick of it.
Mack has stayed in the mix long enough to keep this from feeling settled, but the next few days could still be decisive in a fight that has already put real pressure on the veteran. Even if the answer does not come immediately, Alabama is clearly heading toward a choice it hopes will steady the entire offense, and the tension around that decision is only going to sharpen as the scrimmage approaches. [Read more 🡒]