What Kalen DeBoer, Ty Simpson said about Alabama’s returning quarterbacks

Aug. 19, 2025, Tuscaloosa, AL; Quarterbacks Keelon Russell and Austin Mack throw during practice for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Ty Simpson will be playing on Sundays this fall, but Alabama managed to retain the rest of its quarterback room from last year. 

The Crimson Tide is bringing back rising redshirt junior Austin Mack and rising redshirt freshman Keelon Russell for what will be a battle for the starting spot behind center. In today’s transfer portal age, head coach Kalen DeBoer isn’t taking those returns for granted. 

“It’s huge,” DeBoer said Wednesday while in Mobile for the Senior Bowl. “Two guys who know our system at quarterback. Just the way, with an offensive line that’s got some leaders who are gone, two quarterbacks who can carry over from last year what we did and keep it moving forward.”

Mack is entering his third season with Alabama after following DeBoer over from Washington in 2024. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound pocket passer appeared in four games last season, completing 24 of 32 passes (75%) for 228 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Mack’s most notable appearance last season came when he filled in for an injured Simpson during the Rose Bowl loss to Indiana. Mack completed 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards during that game, leading the Tide to its only score of the game. 

Russell signed with Alabama as the No. 2 overall player in last year’s recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The five-star quarterback appeared in two games — Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois — last season, completing 11 of 15 passes (73.3%) for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Russell was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year coming out of Duncanville High School in Texas. During his senior season, he threw for 4,177 yards and  55 touchdowns with just four interceptions while adding 321 yards and three scores on the ground. 

“Being in the room with Austin for two years, I really just saw him grow, coming in and learning from Jalen (Milroe) and me,” Simpson told Touchdown Alabama. “I’m really excited about his growth. And then Keelon just coming in being eager, always wanting to work, always asking questions. Really excited about those two and their future.”

In addition to bringing back Mack and Russell, Alabama also added a pair of freshman signees in Jett Thomalla and Tayden Kaawa. 

Thomalla, a four-star prospect from Omaha, Nebraska, is rated as the No. 6 quarterback in this year’s class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Kaawa, a three-star prospect from Orem, Utah, is rated as the No. 38 quarterback in the class.