‘Most Inexperienced QB Room in the SEC’ — Ex-NFL Executive Sounds The Alarm on Alabama’s Keelon Russell
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Redshirt freshman Keelon Russell won the Alabama Crimson Tide QB1 job last week after an intense battle against Austin Mack. Russell will succeed Ty Simpson under center as coach Kalen DeBoer’s team seeks to return to the top of the SEC and college football.
Former NFL executive Louis Riddick suggested that Russell will be under the most pressure in college football after beating Mack for the job, despite the senior’s familiarity with DeBoer and Ryan Grubb’s offenses from his Washington career.
Louis Riddick Levels Keelon Russell Warning
During Wednesday’s segment of the “First Take” show, Riddick piled the pressure on Russell to perform in one of college football’s toughest and most stacked conferences.
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“Now that Keelon has kind of like taken the reigns now, and they have decided that this is the guy who is going to really inject a lot of energy, playmaking ability, improvisation into this offense here for 2026. That’s a lot,” Riddick said. “This is the most inexperienced quarterback room in the SEC, amongst the most inexperienced quarterback rooms in the SEC.
“In a conference that is loaded with top-notch, top-level quarterback play, and this team, with the way it struggled last year in terms of offensive line continuity and consistency, being one of the worst rushing teams in all of FBS. Ryan Williams struggling last year after having a sensational freshman year, struggling as a sophomore.”
Last season, Russell appeared in two games and went 11 of 15 for 143 yards and two touchdowns, adding 17 rushing yards. He will have a huge job to turn around the Crimson Tide’s offense that earned a PFN College Team Impact score of 81.4 (No. 30 in the country).
Russell is a former five-star talent and was the No. 2-ranked quarterback and No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2025 behind Michigan Wolverines star Bryce Underwood. He was also a MaxPreps All-American and the National Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024.
Riddick outlined how Russell can invigorate the Crimson Tide’s offense next season despite the difficult conditions.
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“A lot of this though is all going to come back to what can Keelon Russell do in order to infuse some energy and some excitement and some optimism into this offense?” Riddick added. “Defensively, they’re going to be fine, but I’ll tell you what: a week from now, or about 10 days from now, that opening game against East Carolina, that will be one of the most intriguing games of Week 1.”
Last season, Russell served as Simpson and Mack’s backup during the Crimson Tide’s run to the SEC championship game and College Football Playoff adventure.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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