Nick Saban isn’t picking Alabama’s starting quarterback, but he’s not exactly hiding his view of the competition either.
With the Crimson Tide still sorting out a battle between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, Saban addressed the situation Wednesday during an appearance on SEC Network at SEC Media Days. His read was simple: both quarterbacks can handle the job, and the final call may come down to how each one fits with the players around him.
“I think both these guys are capable,” Saban said. “Sometimes you got to say, quarterback is the most difficult position to play based on how the people around you play.
That may have something to do with who they determine is the starter. What’s the best fit with the rest of the players on the team?
I think both guys are capable.”
Saban spent even more time on Russell, the former 5-star prospect whose physical tools have fueled plenty of speculation that he could eventually win the job over Mack. Mack brings more experience and has been with head coach Kalen DeBoer since they arrived in Tuscaloosa from Washington, but Saban made it clear he sees Russell as a major talent.
“Keelon Russell, I’ve watched this guy for two springs. He didn’t play much in the fall.
I watched him in two springs,” Saban said, via 247’s Mike Rodak. “This guy is a talented guy who is a playmaker who can make plays, and whether he’s ready to play now or not - obviously the coaches will determine that - he is going to be an outstanding player in the future.”
Alabama’s quarterback decision is expected to take a few more weeks, and Russell should see more of the field this season than he ever has before, whether he ends up starting or not. The Crimson Tide open the year September 5 against East Carolina.
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For Alabama, the encouraging part is that the conversation around the position has shifted from uncertainty to trust in two different skill sets. Coleman-Williams said he is behind whichever quarterback the coaches pick for the season, which fits the bigger picture in Tuscaloosa right now: the staff has options, the locker room appears aligned, and the final call still carries real weight for how the offense takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
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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 🡒]