The first month of the season has already pushed Keelon Russell and Kamario Taylor into a different conversation, and Saturday’s noon matchup between Alabama and Mississippi State gives fans a direct look at two quarterbacks who are moving fast toward the 2028 NFL Draft discussion.
Both have gone from promising young starters to names that are showing up in scouting circles for all the right reasons. Earlier this week, when asked to rank the top quarterbacks from the class of 2025, two names came to mind immediately: Keelon Russell and Kamario Taylor.
Russell arrived with plenty of hype. He was a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 cycle, trailing only Michigan’s Bryce Underwood. After having to win a preseason camp battle, he has been sharp for Alabama and currently stands as the SEC’s highest-graded passer according to Pro Football Focus.
Taylor’s path looked different, but the results have been just as eye-catching. He was a four-star prospect and the No. 80 overall recruit in the Top247 for 2025.
He started two games late last season for Mississippi State and showed flashes, but this year has been a major step forward. Through the opening stretch, he ranks 11th nationally among qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per play.
What makes the rise of both quarterbacks stand out is how closely it matches the evaluations they carried out of high school. Their starts have come quickly, but not out of nowhere, and that’s why their futures look so promising.
In Other News...
Georgia Vanderbilt Week Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
Georgias buildup to Vanderbilt took a familiar turn this week, with the focus shifting as much to the Commodores quarterback situation as to the matchup itself. Jared Curtis has been listed as questionable because of injury, and the timing matters because Georgia is trying to get ready for an opponent whose offensive ceiling could change depending on who is available under center. The betting line has already nudged in Georgias direction, a sign the market is reacting to the uncertainty as much as the matchup on the field.
There was also some off-field clarity for Bulldogs fans on the recruiting front. Five-star running back Kemon Spell publicly reiterated that he remains committed to Georgia, pushing back on reports tying him to other programs. For a fan base that is tracking both the immediate schedule and the next wave of talent, it is a welcome update even as the Vanderbilt week carries a little more intrigue than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Is Getting Early Vindication On His Most Criticized Move
Mike Bobos latest contract extension comes with the kind of early-season momentum that tends to quiet a loud debate around Athens. Georgias offense is putting up points at a rate that has it sitting atop college football, and the burst has been fueled in part by a pair of young wide receivers, Talyn Taylor and Craig Dandridge, stepping into prominent roles. For a staff that has asked for patience while the unit found its footing, the results have offered a strong opening argument.
Still, the real test for Bobo has never been September efficiency. Since he took over the offense, Georgia has not won a College Football Playoff game, and that postseason burden continues to hang over the conversation even as the regular-season production looks sharper. The extension signals confidence from Kirby Smart, but the lingering question is whether this version of the offense can carry Georgia when the stakes rise and the calendar turns toward playoff football. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia May Make The Easy Call With Nate Frazier
Nate Fraziers status is shaping up to be one of Georgias bigger pregame storylines this week after the starting running back missed the previous game against Oklahoma and is now listed as questionable for Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs have enough bodies in the backfield to get by without rushing him back, which gives the staff some flexibility as it weighs whether there is any real need to push him before he is fully ready.
With Alabama and a tougher stretch looming, Georgia may decide the smart move is simply to protect Frazier and keep the larger picture in mind. His availability against Vanderbilt is expected to come down to a game-time decision, and for a team with depth at the position, that could make the easy call even easier. [Read more 🡒]