Ryan Coleman-Williams says Alabama football’s quarterback battle is close

Alabama football’s quarterback battle remains close ahead of fall camp, according to Ryan Coleman-Williams.

Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are continuing to compete for the starting role and are slated to do so throughout the next several weeks. The battle is in the air a little bit, according to Coleman-Williams.

The wide receiver was asked if he felt like he knew who the starter would be.

“Honestly, right now, I couldn’t even tell myself if I’m being honest, because both of those, both of them, the way that they come in day in and day out, it genuinely does not matter just because, I mean, they’re coming in and reflecting off of each other and building on each other’s good and bad,” Coleman-Williams said on Next Round Live. “And, you know, It’s almost better, I feel like, better this way just because, you know, you get to watch them literally be— they’re forced to be their best self every single day. And just for us, you know, we’re just trying to, you know, give them that confidence that, you know, we’re going to need the best version of you week in and week out. So, you know, just with them doing it on a consistent basis now, I’m nothing but confident that it will continue throughout the season.”

Kalen DeBoer updated where both quarterbacks stood ahead of fall camp at SEC Media Days.

“Both of them are more than capable,” DeBoer said. “I think they’re high-level elite quarterbacks. Fortunately, we have them both in our program. It’s going to be a competition that’s going to lead to a tough decision. It’s one that we’re fortunate to have, and it’s going to be one that when we do make the decision, we’ll be confident that will do a great job because they are two guys that are well-respected by our football team because of how they work, who they are as people and the production and what they look like on the football field.”

Alabama football will likely attempt to have a starting quarterback named before it kicks off the season against East Carolina on Sept. 5.