It might be a little premature, but there is firm reason to believe that Keelon Russell is best suited to be Jalen Milroe’s successor at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. Russell was arguably the top prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. He was awarded the 2024-25 Gatorade National Player of the Year and won two state championships. However, it is not the achievements that qualify Russell to be the starting quarterback. It is the type of player and leader that he is that gives him the advantage.
After spending several days at the Under Armour All-America practices in Orlando, I was able to see firsthand the poise, passion, and leadership that Russell possesses. He was making audibles at the line of scrimmage on Day 1 of practices. That is something that takes a great amount of intelligence to do after just one day of coaches installing the playbook. Russell not only made changes at the line of scrimmage, but he also executed the play call to perfection. He was merely flawless through pass scale and displayed a natural arm talent. Every throw had intent, and that intent was to hit each target in stride. Russell was very impressive to say the least.
With Ryan Grubb being announced as Alabama’s new offensive coordinator, I tend to feel like Russell fits his style of offense. The Texas native is eerily similar to former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Grubb coached Penix Jr. at both Indiana and Washington. With the two possessing similar skillsets and similar tendencies, I tend to think that it will play in Russell’s favor. After all, Russell has drawn comparisons to Penix Jr. for several months.
Another factor that needs to be accounted for is the fact that Simpson and Mack have minimal experience. No one in Alabama’s quarterback room will have started a single game before the season opener against Florida State. Therefore, there will be no prior bias or a specific player that holds the upper hand. Simpson makes the most sense given the fact that he has played the most, but this coaching staff could disregard that. Mack is familiar with Grubb, but he never took a snap with him as a play-caller at Washington. Russell will be in the thick of things when spring ball arrives.
Russell will have to beat out Ty Simpson and Austin Mack who each have more college experience than Russell. Needless to say, Russell will have his work cut out for him. Nevertheless, he seems to be a player that does not pay much attention to other factors such as that. Previously, he told Touchdown Alabama that he was “getting the starting position at any means.” Some people might take that the wrong way, but I look at it as Russell being driven to succeed by any means necessary. He played at the highest level in high school football and feels prepared to take over the reigns as Alabama’s next quarterback.
In the past, Alabama has leaned toward not starting freshman quarterbacks. However, Russell could be an exception to that given his potential and the way that he carries himself. He carries himself like he has years of college experience. All of these factors combined should give Russell the upper hand when it comes to Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb choosing Jalen Milroe’s successor for the 2025 season.
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Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
