Keelon Russell is Alabama football's starting quarterback. Russell, the highest-rated recruit in Alabama football history, per 247Sports' composite rankings and the first five-star quarterback in the Kalen DeBoer era, separated himself from the pack, beating Austin Mack for first-team reps. And DeBoer is excited to see what Russell can do. " He continues to feel comfortable with this offense, command of the offense, execution," DeBoer said after Alabama's fall camp practice Monday, Aug_ABBR. 24. "
He's done a better job, with more and more reps, as you'd expect, taking care of the football. Balancing that with the ability to just be explosive not be too conservative. " It's poise, DeBoer said of Russell. It's Russell's production and his personal expectation of what the Crimson Tide offense is and what his role is in this offense. It's what DeBoer predicted of Russell out of Duncanville High School in Texas where he amassed 7,444 passing yards, completing 71.3% of his 586 pass attempts and 97 career touchdowns. "
Big moments never seemed too big for him," DeBoer said. " The guys believe in him. He has a voice out there. He's not afraid to speak up and be vocal, and I think that's even more so now that he's been named the starting quarterback. You just feel, when he's out there yelling out calls, trying to get guys lined up, pulling them in, whatever the situation is. It's him and the guys all beloeve in him and they are going to do what he says. Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Keelon Russell was named Alabama football starting quarterback
