Deboer tells why Keelon Russell got to start over Mack against Vanderbilt

Keelon Russell started at quarterback for Alabama against Vanderbilt, despite many expecting Austin Mack to get the start.

Russell was reportedly dealing with an ankle injury. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Mack was expected to start and Russell would rest his ankle. DeBoer explained why the Tide went with Russell after the game.

“Every day he was getting better,” DeBoer said. “The last 24, 48 hours, a lot of improvement. Probably just a few things early in the game I felt he wasn’t probably sharp on, as we expected, and ways we could have helped him out a little bit more, but as the game went on, in the middle of the 2nd, I felt like he was starting to kind of find his groove and in the 3rd quarter for sure. I think he did a good job because it showed up with the things that they’re doing, things that they were going to show us, that he was ready mentally for whatever he had to do, whether he was ready to step on the football field or not.”

DeBoer also stated the Tide was preparing Mack to be ready to go, and they felt he was.

“I think we had to approach him, and I think pretty much all of us were approaching it that he had to be out there, be ready to go, and he was,” DeBoer told reporters. “That’s a hard spot for him to be in. I just can’t give him enough credit. It’s a tough situation, but especially tough because I know he was working extremely hard to get out there and help our team win, and he was prepared to do that. I think our guys saw that. That’s what you appreciate so much about him.”

Russell led Alabama to a win over Vanderbilt with three passing touchdowns.