Alabama may have a very different kind of quarterback decision on its hands this Saturday against Vanderbilt.
With Keelon Russell nursing an ankle injury and listed as day-to-day after the win over LSU, Austin Mack could be the next man up for the Crimson Tide. On Monday, Kalen DeBoer opened the door to that possibility, and if Russell can’t go, Mack may get the chance to run the offense in a game Alabama likely can handle without pushing its starter.
That would make this more than just a spot start. It could be Mack’s best chance to put himself in front of the rest of the country.
Russell won the job in camp over Mack, and the results have backed up DeBoer’s call. Alabama is 7-2 through nine games, and Russell has already delivered multiple second-half comebacks, including the one against LSU last Saturday. His mobility has been a major reason he got the nod, especially behind an Alabama offensive line that has been shaky.
Mack, though, brings a different kind of appeal. He was once a five-star recruit for DeBoer at Washington before following him to Tuscaloosa in 2024.
At 6-foot-6 with tremendous arm strength, he still looks the part of a quarterback who can turn heads. He just hasn’t had much of a chance to show it, with only 39 career pass attempts to his name.
That’s part of why this weekend matters. Mack is expected to transfer this winter with Russell locked in as the long-term starter, and a strong showing against Vanderbilt would give quarterback-needy teams plenty to think about.
He may not carry the same buzz he once did, but Mack remains an intriguing player - and one who could still break out next season if he finally gets the runway.
In Other News...
Aidan Mizell Is Fueling An Uncomfortable Florida What If
Aidan Mizells move from Florida to UCLA is starting to look like one of those transfers that lingers in the background of a season, especially for Gators fans watching him settle in elsewhere. He had limited playing time in Gainesville, but out on the West Coast he has carved out a bigger role and already piled up 501 receiving yards early in the 2024 season, a sign that his talent was always there waiting for the right opportunity.
Mizells recent surge has only sharpened the uncomfortable what if for Florida: what if he had gotten the same runway in orange and blue? After injuries slowed his early 2026 season, he has earned more snaps and more trust at UCLA, and his production has followed, including a six-catch, 176-yard, one-touchdown performance against Illinois. For Florida, it is the kind of development that does not change the past, but does make it harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Kentucky Outlook Just Shifted With Two Big Defensive Changes
Floridas Week 11 prep for Kentucky got a little clearer, and a little thinner, on the defensive side of the ball. The Gators updated their injury report with cornerback Dijon Johnson downgraded to out, while defensive lineman DK Kalu moved up to probable, a small but important shift as the team tries to sort out its depth before another SEC test.
The list of unavailable players still leaves Florida with some holes to fill, with Vernell Brown III, Bryce Thornton, Jaden Robinson and Evan Chieca all confirmed out. Even with Kalu trending in the right direction, the Gators will need to piece together their rotation carefully against a Kentucky team that tends to make every missing body matter. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas 2027 Class Is Starting To Answer A Big Roster Question
Floridas 2027 recruiting class took a meaningful step forward with the addition of two four-star forwards, Kamsi Awaka of Blair Academy and Ian Condon of Sidwell Friends. Awaka arrives as a consensus top-50 national prospect, while Condon comes in as the top recruit in Washington, D.C., giving Todd Golden a pair of frontcourt pieces with the kind of size and upside that tend to matter in the SEC.
For Florida, the timing is notable because Awaka is widely viewed as a player who can help answer a looming roster need after Rueben Chinyelus departure. Golden praised both signees for their skills and work ethic, and the early return on this class is already showing up in the rankings, where Florida sits 21st nationally and sixth in the SEC according to Rivals. [Read more 🡒]