The Alabama Crimson Tide are so close to descending into the SEC's middle of the pack. During the 2026 season, without a quarterback who Nick Saban's coaching staff personally scouted, it may finally happen.
Saturday Blitz's Nicholas Rome sees Alabama's QB room as the ninth-best situation in the conference, believing redshirt freshman Keelon Russell, who's had 15 pass attempts in his collegiate career, is the frontrunner for the job.
Rome even projected Russell as the next potential star quarterback under Kalen DeBoer, who oversaw Michael Penix's success with the Washington Huskies and made the most of a QB he didn't recruit, Ty Simpson, in 2025.
"The Alabama Crimson Tide are tasked with replacing starting quarterback Ty Simpson, who's off to the NFL Draft. Redshirt Freshman Keelon Russell should be the frontrunner for the job, a year removed from being the 2nd-ranked recruit in the Country. Russell flashed in limited playing time, and he could be Kalen DeBoer's next star quarterback," Rome wrote.
Believing DeBoer could have the next star on his hands, while also believing eight quarterbacks, including USF Bulls transfer/Auburn Tigers QB1 Byrum Brown, will be better than Russell in 2026, means Rome sees a long-term future in Tuscaloosa for the Tide's head coach.
About that, though...
Kalen DeBoer is on thin ice and needs to get QB right in 2026
While discussing Russell and Austin Mack's return to Alabama ahead of the 2026 Senior Bowl, DeBoer admitted that having his QBs back would be pivotal because of the figurative and literal massive losses along the offensive line, most notably Northridge product and former starting RT Wilkin Formby, who joined the Texas A&M Aggies via the transfer portal.
Unfortunately, a good offensive line can cover up bad QB play far better than the inverse. DeBoer may have athletes in the backfield, but they'll be less effective if they have to run for their lives during every play-action set.
DeBoer doesn't have forever to make Russell or Mack work. One more dud campaign and the Bammers will be calling for his removal even more vociferously than they've been since his 9-4 debut season in West Central Alabama.
DeBoer better hope he has someone better than the ninth-best QB this season, or he won't be mentioned at all on next year's "Way Too Early SEC Quarterback Rankings" list.