Athlon Sports predicts Alabama redshirt freshman will be college football’s breakout star in 2026

3/31/25 MFB Spring practice Alabama Quarterback Keelon Russell (12) Photo by Kent Gidley

Athlon Sports made multiple bold predictions about the SEC ahead of the 2026 football season.

One of those predictions was that the Tide’s redshirt freshman quarterback and former five-star Keelon Russell would be college football’s breakout star. Athlon sports writers picked Russell because of his potential and Kalen DeBoer’s track record of developing quarterbacks.

The Crimson Tide has not named a starter ahead of the 2026 football season, and all signs point to them not doing so anytime soon. Russell is still competing for the position with Austin Mack.

Kalen DeBoer told Greg McElroy on “Always College Football” that he is not ready to name a starter.

“I’m not ready,” DeBoer said while laughing. “I’m not ready. I think you mentioned it. I think the thing to say is that we do have two guys that you always talk about the— I talk about the ceiling for some of these guys, but also I think it’s also what’s the floor? And I think knowing that, hey, at the very least we’re at this point, like it leaves a lot of optimism on what that room’s going to be and what it’s going to lead to as far as the production on the football field each and every Saturday.”

Russell stood out during the Tide’s spring scrimmage, A-Day. He threw multiple touchdowns and made plays with his feet as a runner. Ryan Coleman-Williams described playing with Russell like playing a video game after the scrimmage.

“That’s exactly what you want,” Coleman-Williams said. “I mean, you know, sometimes a play is going to be longer than what you expect, but it just feels like you’re playing a video game when 12’s in, so really just continuing to have fun. You never know what you’re going to get, and just be there. Be in the moment when you’re playing.”

What would Alabama football’s offense look like with Keelon Russell starting at quarterback?