Greg McElroy tells why Tide 2026 QB battle will determine future of Alabama football

Former Alabama quarterback, Greg McElroy feels the Tide’s 2026 quarterback competition is a ‘battle for the future of the Crimson Tide.’

“When we talk about the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of the biggest storylines in college football this spring is the quarterback derby that we’ll be witnessing on the practice field in April to see who is best positioned to take over for Ty Simpson,” McElroy said on “Everything College Football.” “Because Ty Simpson’s off to the NFL, and for the first time since Kalen DeBoer arrived, he has a quarterback room that he has handpicked. So the competition between Austin Mack, the veteran, and Keelon Russell is not just a battle for the starting spot, it’s a battle for the future of the Crimson Tide.”

Mack transferred to Alabama from Washington after DeBoer became the head coach of the Crimson Tide. McElroy thinks he has been effective in limited action.

“Now, Mack, he’s got the seniority, and he has been in this system for a really long time,” McElroy said. “He was recruited by Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb to Washington, has been in the system now for four years. When they got the job at Alabama, they said, “Hey we want Austin Mack to come with us.” So, he is the veteran in the room, has a great understanding of the offense, and in limited playing time, has been very, very effective.”

Russell signed with Alabama as a five-star recruit in the 2025 recruiting class. McElroy feels Russell’s skillset could make the ceiling of the Tide’s offense go through the roof.

“And then on the other side, you have Keelon Russell, who’s kind of a phenom with his talent level, a guy that when the ball comes out of his hand, it looks like it’s shot out of a cannon,” said McElroy. “I mean, he is a very talented young man, and if he wins the job as a redshirt freshman, then the ceiling for the offense, it might just go through the roof, right? It could go crazy high.”

Alabama will begin spring practice in March, and this quarterback competition will take better shape at that point.