Keelon Russell has barely gotten his college career off the ground, but the conversation around Alabama’s quarterback already feels bigger than the sample size. Five starts in, the sophomore from Duncanville, Texas, is being talked about in the kind of company reserved for Crimson Tide legends.
That was the backdrop on Saturday’s edition of SEC Nation, where Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Chase Daniel and Tim Tebow kicked around the idea of whether Russell could one day end up as the greatest quarterback in Alabama history. Harper, a former Alabama and NFL safety, didn’t go that far yet - but he made it clear Russell has already forced people to pay attention.
“I knew some things about this young man coming out of Duncanville (Texas) High School,” Harper said. “But I didn’t know he was as athletic as he is.
I didn’t know he had the ability to run and create and throw the football with such accuracy. And he checks all the boxes.
“Somebody asked me was he the best quarterback in Alabama history? I said ‘slow down, it’s been (five) starts.’
But he does have to check all the boxes because he has the size that Bryce (Young) lacked. He has the ability to throw the football that Jalen Hurts did not have.
Mac (Jones) had accuracy, but he doesn’t have this type of athleticism. So the way this young man is playing, you just see the upside.”
The numbers back up the buzz. Russell is 5-0 as Alabama’s starter, has thrown for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns against just two interceptions, and is completing 71% of his passes. He has also added four rushing touchdowns.
Finebaum was even more willing to go big-picture, saying Russell has the tools to surpass every quarterback who came before him at Alabama. Still, he pointed to Saturday night’s matchup with Georgia as the kind of stage that can shape that kind of conversation.
“There’s been three Alabama quarterbacks who have been Super Bowl MVPs - Bart Starr, Joe Willie Namath and Ken Stabler. But they’re not really in this conversation because none of them were that great in college.
They were good, but … they didn’t get the hype like this. As you move along, the last couple (of Alabama quarterbacks) have been the best, Tua (Tagovailoa) and Bryce Young.
“… I’m going to go ahead and say it - this is not hyperbole. This is not Paul Finebaum saying ‘Arch Manning will be the next Tim Tebow.’
But tonight will help determine that if he wins this game - right now, his biggest win is over what? Kentucky or Mississippi State.
That’s not going to get you to the greatest quarterback in Alabama history. You beat Georgia on this stage, case closed, it’s over tomorrow.”
Finebaum’s “case closed” line sounded like the kind of oversized declaration he knows how to deliver, and he also overlooked Jalen Hurts’ Super Bowl MVP honor from two years ago. But the larger point stayed intact: Russell’s résumé is still being written, and the biggest wins will matter most.
Harper agreed, saying Alabama quarterbacks are judged by more than arm talent or athletic gifts.
“I think when you’re at Alabama, it’s not just about attributes,” said Harper, who played 11 years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. “It’s not just about traits. It’s about also SEC accolades.
“You got to go out there and win. You got to go win a championship.
You got to win a Heisman Trophy. You have to go win an SEC championship to be considered the best at Alabama.
Or you’re just another guy that’s going to go to the (NFL) and make a lot of money. And we got a lot of those.”
Russell and No. 6 Alabama will get another major measuring stick Saturday night when the Crimson Tide host No.
2 Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Both teams are 5-0 and 3-0 in the SEC, and the game is set for 6:30 p.m. on ABC.
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