Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer might not be ready to admit it, but it seems the quarterback battle has been decided. "Would expect Kalen DeBoer to name Keelon Russell the starter by early next week. He’s been excellent this preseason and gives Alabama more playmaking ability at the QB position.
Throws a really nice ball," said longtime college football reporter Chris Low of On3. That statement from Low indicates the popular belief is that Russell has edged out Austin Mack, who came to Alabama from Washington with DeBoer and who got significant playing time in the Rose Bowl earlier this year. DeBoer has been a bit more circumspect, though, including when asked about the QB race on Thursday morning, as shown in video from a press conference shared by "The Next Round" show.
"We'll work through it here this weekend, see where we're at, and continue to discuss it as a coaching staff," DeBoer said. That said, DeBoer indicated that he has faith in both passers. "We can go in with either one of them," he said in the presser.
While that's certainly comforting for fans to hear in case of an injury to the starter, many are hoping and expecting Low's prediction to prove true. Mack, while capable, doesn't have the high ceiling of Russell, a five-star prospect who was the top recruit in all of Texas and the second-ranked player at any position nationally coming out of high school. He's also impressed observers more in camp this fall, reports Nick Kelly of AL.com.
"The general consensus among scrimmage observers with whom AL.com spoke Thursday was that Mack looked good, but Russell had more standout moments. Neither quarterback was bad and there didn’t sound to be many colossal mistakes. Russell, though, had more standout throws," Kelly wrote.
Kelly also quoted an observer as saying Russell's throws were "right on the money" and into tight windows. "Russell sounded to have made good reads and was on time with his throws," Kelly wrote. Russell sounded to have placed the ball perfectly for his target to be able to secure the ball.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
