Why Kalen DeBoer handing keys to Keelon Russell is a make-or-break move at Alabama
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Kalen DeBoer was a hot commodity following the 2023 season at Washington. The Huskies might’ve lost the national title to Michigan, but it was a feat for Washington to get there in the first place.
Once Nick Saban packed his bags and said goodbye to college football, it was a race to sign DeBoer. But after two seasons at Alabama, fans quickly realized he isn’t Saban, and it’s not going to be easy to replace one of the greatest college coaches of all time.
In two seasons at Alabama, DeBoer has lost four games in each season, but this past year, the Crimson Tide made it to the College Football Playoff, where they were trounced by Indiana in Round 2.
With two weeks until Alabama takes the field, DeBoer made the decision to name former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell the starting quarterback, giving him the keys to Tuscaloosa.
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Russell better pan out as pressure mounts
Alabama is used to winning and it’s used to competing for national titles under Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide has been a shell of what they were under Saban and fans will get impatient quickly if that doesn’t change. In both 2024 and 2025, Alabama did little to make anyone believe it’s going to contend for a national title.
And for the first time since 2016, the year following Jake Coker’s last season with the Tide, there are questions at the quarterback position. Now, that may not be a fair assessment. Jalen Hurts came in and got the job done in 2016, and it’s certainly possible Russell comes in and does really well.
The difference? Nick Saban vs. Kalen DeBoer. Fans knew whoever started at quarterback under Saban would do well, mostly due to a strong running attack and a great defense.
Nothing against DeBoer and his coaching, but you can’t expect a DeBoer team to do well running the football. In 2025, Alabama had the 125th-ranked rushing offense in the nation, it had the 47th in 2024, and Washington had the 100th-ranked rushing attack in 2023.
Needless to say, DeBoer relies on his gunslinger.
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Even more pressure on the young gun
With DeBoer airing the ball out and relying on his passing attack to move the sticks, even more pressure is on Russell. Austin Mack was in contention, and he is someone DeBoer is familiar with, but it’s clear that Russell is a supreme talent, and he won the job outright.
In two seasons of college football, Russell has attempted 15 passes, but he has thrown for 143 yards and two scores. He is athletic and can extend plays using his legs, something that is important in DeBoer’s offense.
But Alabama also has one of the toughest schedules in college football. The Crimson Tide have a four-game stretch that consists of Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and LSU. If Alabama is going to contend for an SEC title and make the College Football Playoff, it will need to at least split those games and not lose any others.
If Alabama misses the CFP this season, the hot seat will only continue to rise for DeBoer in Alabama. Naming Russell the starter will make or break DeBoer’s tenure in Tuscaloosa.
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