Nick Saban didn’t hold back when he sized up Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell on Friday.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, the former Alabama coach said Russell is showing a level of poise that jumps off the screen for a player who has only started four or five games. Saban pointed to the young quarterback’s instincts, his ability to make plays, and the way he handles the position with maturity.
"Keelon Russell is -- the maturity he plays with, and he shows for a guy that is a young player that has only started in what, four or five games now is pretty phenomenal to me," Saban told The Pat McAfee Show. "His instincts as a player and his ability to make plays -- he is a play maker.
I always called Bryce Young a point guard playing quarterback. This guy is very similar.
"Knows when to scramble, keeps his eyes downfield, makes plays -- running it, throwing it, extending plays. This is a guy that has special instincts.
I always say processing is the most important thing for the quarterback. This guy can do that very well, and he can extend plays.
I think that has helped create a dynamic on this team that is probably Kalen DeBoer's best team he's had in the three years he's been here because this team has really come together in a positive way."
Saban’s comparison to Bryce Young landed with extra weight because Young is set to be in Tuscaloosa on Saturday for ESPN’s College Gameday. He’ll serve as the guest picker inside Coleman Coliseum.
The timing also puts Alabama in the spotlight for a major matchup. The Tide are set to face Georgia at 6:45 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Saban also had strong words for Georgia, calling the Bulldogs one of the most complete teams in the country. Even with Georgia’s relatively light test so far, he said the team has handled business the right way.
"I think Georgia is one of the most complete teams in the country," Saban said Friday. "I know they haven't been tested, but they haven't been behind.
They've dominated the competition -- which that is hard to do sometimes when you're supposed to win and you go out and win like you're supposed to. They've been able to do that.
"How they'll fare against a little better competition? Look, I think teams that have success and have won championships, they're never gonna say die.
They're gonna compete in the game for 60 minutes. There may be some adversity for them in the game, but they're gonna keep playing and whoever is gonna beat them is gonna have to play for 60 minutes to do it with the same kind of temperament and attitude to play a complete game."
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Georgia Heads To Alabama With A New Problem On Both Sides
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For Alabama, that adds another layer to a game already shaped by availability and depth, especially against a Georgia group trying to piece together its rotation on the fly. The injury report leaves the Bulldogs with multiple names off the board heading into one of the seasons most watched SEC matchups, and it is a reminder that the margin in games like this often starts well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
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The buildup to Alabama-Georgia already had all the ingredients of a marquee October matchup, and Nick Saban did little to cool it off this week. With both teams sitting at 5-0, the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs are headed into a game that carries the feel of an early measuring stick for the SEC and the national picture, especially with Georgia coming in as the defending standard after last seasons championship-level run.
Sabans praise for Georgia only sharpens the intrigue, since he called the Bulldogs one of the most complete teams in the country and acknowledged how dominant they have been so far. Alabama also has recent history to answer for, after Georgia beat the Tide 28-7 in the SEC Championship, so this meeting has the makings of more than just another high-end showdown. It is another chance for Alabama to show where it stands against the team that has set the tone in the conference. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Is Sending A Clear Message About EJ Crowells Slow Start
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So far, the usage has reflected that approach, with Crowell getting a limited role while Alabama sorts out how to bring him along without rushing the process. He has already flashed enough to show why the staff is encouraged, but the larger message from the coaches is that the slow start is about development, not doubt. For a player with his upside, the next step is less about forcing the issue and more about waiting for the right time to let it come together. [Read more 🡒]