Alabama QB Keelon Russell says he had to quit ‘nonsense’ to become starter

Keelon Russell sat down with ESPN’s Desmond Howard for a feature interview on College Gameday.

The quarterback was asked about the growing pains he experienced when he first arrived in Tuscaloosa during the interview.

“When I got here, the football language was different,” Russell said. “I wasn’t really locked in. I was able to hear Ty (Simpson) and Austin Mack go over the plays and just see how they operate offense. I told myself, I got to quit all the extra nonsense outside of football. I had to go through that moment and see with my own eyes, what a starting quarterback really looks like.”

Russell signed with Alabama as a five-star recruit, and he had plans to start right away in Tuscaloosa. The emergence of Ty Simpson as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback last season gave Russell the opportunity to sit behind Simpson and learn from him and Austin Mack.

The Alabama starter is now in the Heisman conversation after leading the Tide to a 5-0 record this season.

Russell has thrown for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.