Where CBS Sports ranks Alabama's Keelon Russell among Power 4 QBs
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For the second year in a row, Alabama football will be breaking in a first-year starter at quarterback this fall.
While coach Kalen DeBoer has yet to name a starter, Keelon Russell is generally expected to be under center when the Crimson Tide open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium against East Carolina.
Russell, a five-star recruit and the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect from the class of 2025, redshirted last season as Ty Simpson guided Alabama to an 11-win season, a trip to the SEC Championship Game, and a College Football Playoff win and subsequent Rose Bowl appearance.
Russell saw action in two games: Alabama’s shutout wins over ULM in Week 2 and Eastern Illinois on Nov. 22. He completed 11 of his 15 passes for 143 yards and rushed twice for 16 yards. Russell threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cole Adams and another 20-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter against ULM.
With Russell expected to see much more meaningful playing time in 2026, CBS Sports on Wednesday unveiled its rankings for all 68 projected Power Four starting quarterbacks.
Russell ranked right in the middle at No. 34. CBS Sports’ college football analyst Brad Crawford said:
“Assuming he beats out Mack, a former Washington transfer, for QB1 honors with the Crimson Tide, Russell’s play could determine the future outlook for Kalen DeBoer’s tenure as a coach facing pressure in 2026 — and given where he ranked as a recruit (No. 2 overall), the Tide really have no choice but to see what kind of return on investment Russell delivers. Best-case scenario for Russell is for Alabama’s run game to show vast improvements for aid and Ryan Williams returns to freshman form as WR1.”
Among projected SEC starters, Russell ranked No. 10, one spot ahead of Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor and one spot behind Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey, a Notre Dame transfer.
Not surprisingly, Texas‘ Arch Manning topped CBS Sports’ SEC quarterback rankings at No. 3 overall, one spot ahead of Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss at No. 4. Dante Moore of Oregon topped the overall list at No. 1, and former Alabama recruit Julian Sayin of Ohio State was No. 2.
As for DeBoer facing pressure in Year 3, CBS Sports ranked him No. 8 on its list of the 10 coaches facing the most pressure in 2026 back in February.
Alabama football schedule 2026
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
- Nov. 7: at LSU
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football QB could determine Kalen DeBoer’s future, CBS says
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