Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell threw for three touchdowns after emerging from the medical tent, and head coach Kalen DeBoer is not shocked by the toughness that Russell displayed in Alabama’s 31-13 win in Death Valley.
Russell was walking gingerly after his ankle was seemingly dinged up early in the second half, and he visited the medical tent during an LSU offensive possession. Alabama had quarterback Austin Mack warming up, but Russell returned to the game with his ankle taped up and proceeded to throw multiple touchdown passes.
“Guy’s tough, and you know, it doesn’t surprise me because I’ve seen it before with him,” DeBoer said. “The physical toughness and his determination to be out on the football field. It wasn’t just tonight. I’ve seen it throughout the course of the year at different times. I thought he just did a great job of staying focused and locked in. The things that we’ve talked about, all of us, trying to do too much at times. He threw the ball away, but he’s obviously got the tools to go make the plays.”
Russell also spoke to reporters after the game and pulled back the curtain on what was happening when he went into the tent.
“When I went into the tent, I know that a lot of heads down on the team, so I felt like going into the tent, I had to keep myself confident, keep myself optimistic and keep myself going,” he said. “I didn’t want to see my team down. We went into this fight; I knew they needed me. I trust in everybody on the team, and those guys kept pouring into me. Through the grace of God, it wasn’t a big injury. I was able to step back on the field and just able to give it my all.”
Did the visit to the tent make Russell worried? According to Russell, he was not worried, but he knew that if he could not return to the game, he was going to feel really bad about himself because he did not feel like he had given it his all.
“When I came out the tent, I just said I can’t an ankle injury be the reason we do something bad,” Russell said. “Just went out there on the field and gave it my all.”
Russell finished the game with 206 passing yards and three touchdowns.
DeBoer did say that there were a few plays Russell left out on the field, but he is happy with the overall performance from his starting quarterback.
“I thought he did a great job of just running and managing the offense and making the plays when he had the chance,” DeBoer said.
Alabama football will travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt next week.
