Alabama Football News

Alabama QB listed as quarterback to watch for 2027 NFL Draft by ESPN analyst

by
Justin Smith
May 26, 2026

Photo via Alabama Athletics

Alabama football’s quarterback and California product Austin Mack was listed as a draft-eligible quarterback to know ahead of the 2026 season by ESPN NFL Draft and college football analyst, Jordan Reid.

Mack will be eligible to declare for the draft at the end of the upcoming season, but he first has to win the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback competition and show major promise to boost his draft stock. He is competing for the spot alongside Keelon Russell.

Reid listed the top quarterback prospects to know and listed what he considers to be the best of the rest. Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Texas’ Arch Manning were among the top quarterbacks. Auburn’s Byrum Brown, Indiana’s Josh Hoover and Baylor’s DJ Lagway were listed among the best of the rest.

Mack found himself listed right outside both of those lists.

The former four-star was the Tide’s primary backup during the 2025 football season. He was the first quarterback off teh sideline whenever Ty Simpson was subbed out of the game. He threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns in very limited playing time.

What would Alabama football’s offense look like with Austin Mack starting at quarterback?

Alabama football is set to begin team summer workouts very soon.

Justin Smith( Managing Editor, Director of Recruiting )

Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.