Keelon Russell is drawing plenty of respect before his first season as Alabama’s starting quarterback, even if the preseason watch lists and rankings haven’t handed him a headline yet.
The biggest reason is simple: the résumé isn’t there yet. Russell was left off the preseason Manning Award Watch List, which features 40 quarterbacks.
That omission does not read like a slight so much as a reflection of where he is right now. Of those 40 quarterbacks, only one has thrown for fewer than 2,000 yards, and more than half have piled up over 3,000 career passing yards.
Russell, by comparison, has 143 passing yards in 37 college snaps.
That’s why the Manning Award picture is still wide open. The watch list will shift several times before a winner is crowned, and while Alabama fans may not be circling Russell as a favorite today, there is an expectation that he could land on the mid-season watch list.
Recent quarterback rankings told a similar story. USA Today placed Russell at No. 25 among FBS quarterbacks, and the eight SEC passers ahead of him all bring significant playing experience. Athlon went even further in the conference view, ranking Russell as the SEC’s sixth-best quarterback and saying his "upside is enormous."
Still, the bigger Alabama story isn’t individual awards. It’s what happens on Saturdays.
Russell’s season will be judged first by wins, then by what the Crimson Tide do after the regular season ends. If Athlon’s quarterback rankings hold up, Alabama will face only three opponents with better quarterbacks: Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, who were ranked No.
3, No. 4, and No. 5, respectively.
That sets up a tricky path. With the Georgia and LSU matchups looming, and with the timing of the South Carolina and Georgia games, Russell could end up being outplayed by the opposing quarterback in each of those contests. But there’s another possibility too: Alabama wins at least two of the three, with November’s Russell getting the better of Leavitt in Baton Rouge.
So no, Russell is not being snubbed. The more pressing concern for Alabama fans remains the same one that has echoed all offseason: the rebuilt offensive line, which has even more to prove than the sophomore quarterback behind it.
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 Biggest Offensive Concern Now Isn't The Quarterback
Keelon Russell has settled the quarterback question for Alabama, but the offense still has some sorting to do before the picture feels complete. The bigger concern now sits in front of him, where the Crimson Tide are still working through their starting offensive line combinations and trying to settle on answers at left guard and right tackle. Those spots matter just as much as the name under center, especially for an offense that needs cohesion up front before it can really find its rhythm.
The uncertainty does not stop there. Alabama is also dealing with injuries in the backfield and at receiver, with EJ Crowell and Noah Rogers expected to miss time, which forces the staff to keep weighing other options. So while the quarterback decision brought clarity, the rest of the offense still has enough moving parts to make the weeks ahead feel like more of a puzzle than a finished product. [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 🡒]