Former Alabama LB names his choice for Crimson Tide starting QB after watching spring practice

Photo comes via Tuscaloosa News/USA Today Sports

Kalen DeBoer sees Alabama’s quarterback competition going through preseason camp; however, a Crimson Tide legendary linebacker already has his choice to be the starter.

Alabama legendary LB said this Tide linebacker ‘will be a problem’

Reuben Foster, a former All-American, was featured on The Millers’ Edge via Tide 100.9 FM with Christian Miller on Wednesday. He earned the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker in college football, in 2016 – while gaining first-team All-Southeastern Conference. 

Foster was a three-time SEC Champion (2014-16) and a College Football Playoff National Champion in 2015.

The Roanoke (Ala.) native is all-in on Keelon Russell, a redshirt freshman, becoming the starting signal-caller for the Tide in the fall. 

“I know Coach Saban is going to be mad at me for doing this, but I got Keelon Russell,” Foster said.

Reuben Foster says this Birmingham native resembles him at ILB

“I got to go with No. 12. The way he was throwing that thing, the way it was just flickering out of there, it was just a thing of beauty. Don’t get me wrong, No. 10 [Austin Mack] is fire, but No. 12’s energy caught my eye.”

Russell, a former five-star, had a very impressive spring. 

The native Texan put on a show in the spring game, including five touchdown passes.

Foster played with two dynamic quarterbacks in Blake Sims (2014) and Jalen Hurts (2016), but he also played with two pocket passers in AJ McCarron (2013) and Jake Coker (2015). Alabama has to have a dynamic trigger man with the offensive line figuring things out, and Russell is the guy Foster believes will get it done. We will see how the young man performs in fall camp.

Russell completed 11-of-15 passes last season for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.