Kalen DeBoer sets state of Alabama QB battle between Austin Mack, Keelon Russell

Kalen DeBoer can tell. This Alabama football quarterback battle between redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell is different.

“You can tell that they’ve had a number of reps from the last year under their belt,”the Alabama coach said Tuesday, March 10 after the Crimson Tide‘s second spring practice. “Playing with confidence, calling the play in the huddle with confidence. Both of them light years ahead of where they were a year ago, as they should be.”

For both Russell and Mack, talent level was never the concern.

Spring, DeBoer said, is about “building rapport,” making throws when given the opportunity while developing “the timing and trust and just feeling comfortable in the pocket.”

Mack was the first one to start building for 2026 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the 2026 Rose Bowl after Ty Simpson left with a fractured rib. Mack had a team-leading 103 passing yards, completing 11 of his 16 pass attempts. As a redshirt sophomore, Mack had 228 passing yards and two touchdowns.

But Russell, despite only two appearances, shined, spinning 143 passing yards and two touchdown passes in 15 pass attempts.

DeBoer didn’t differentiate between Mack or Russell. When asked about the quarterbacks, the Alabama coach didn’t name either when asked about the battle.

Two practices in, though, DeBoer does see one thing, one thing that could be a welcome sign for Alabama no matter who the starter is.

“I think they are putting a lot of pressure on our defense,” DeBoer said. “Our defense (is) doing the same to them.”

Alabama will end its 2026 spring practice schedule Saturday, April 11 with A-Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

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. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer talks Austin Mack, Keelon Russell, Alabama football QBs