TUSCALOOSA, AL — If you wish to perceive Keelon Russell’s expertise as a quarterback, shut your eyes.
To listen to Alabama security Bray Hubbard inform it, you possibly can hear a Russell move.
“You possibly can hear the ball sizzle when he throws it,” Hubbard instructed me final week.
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Alabama has one of many few true quarterback competitions within the SEC. The place battle will come into deeper focus when it performs its spring recreation on Saturday, April 11.
Maybe I’m responsible of oversimplifying the scenario, but it surely certain looks like the crux of this competitors comes all the way down to expertise versus upside.
Coach Kalen DeBoer should select between veteran Austin Mack and Russell, a redshirt freshman. Mack’s expertise with DeBoer dates to their days at Washington. Russell dedicated to DeBoer as a five-star recruit, months after Alabama employed him to exchange Nick Saban.
Alabama quarterbacks Austin Mack (10) and Keelon Russell (12) throw throughout follow in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Aug. 19, 2025.
Russell barely performed final season, as a result of why burn his redshirt when Ty Simpson held down the beginning quarterback spot? Mack served as Simpson’s backup and bought his most in depth taking part in time within the second half of a Rose Bowl blowout.
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To additional assess this competitors, let’s return to a man who’s charged with defending their passes.
“They each can throw the ball a mile and hit actually each throw within the ebook,” Hubbard mentioned. “… Austin, he does a very good job of commanding the offense. Keelon is a youthful man. Austin has been within the system (longer), however I’ll say, Keelon has bought a cannon. He will get us on a regular basis with some balls. I’m like, ‘Wow, that takes a very spectacular arm to throw.’ ”
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Defensive again Tony-Louis Nkuba #21 of the Arizona State Solar Devils celebrates by leaping into an inflatable bowl of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes after intercepting a move towards the Duke Blue Devils through the first half of the Tony The Tiger Solar Bowl recreation at Solar Bowl Stadium on December 31, 2025 in El Paso, Texas
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Defensive again Tony-Louis Nkuba #21 of the Arizona State Solar Devils celebrates by leaping into an inflatable bowl of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes after intercepting a move towards the Duke Blue Devils through the first half of the Tony The Tiger Solar Bowl recreation at Solar Bowl Stadium on December 31, 2025 in El Paso, Texas
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Tony the Tiger stands on the sector after the coin toss earlier than a soccer recreation between Duke and Arizona State within the Tony the Tiger Solar Bowl at Solar Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) greats the Pop-Tarts mascots earlier than the Pop-Tarts Bowl towards the BYU Cougars at Tenting World Stadium.
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Pop-Tarts mascots rejoice with BYU Cougars after beating Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets within the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Tenting World Stadium.
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Pop-Tarts mascots rejoice with BYU Cougars after beating Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets within the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Tenting World Stadium.
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The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl mascots carry out on the sector earlier than a recreation between the Michigan Wolverines and Texas Longhorns at Tenting World Stadium.
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Louisville Cardinals gamers rejoice after defeating the Toledo Rockets within the Boca Raton Bowl at Flagler CU Stadium.
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Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch holds the LA Bowl championship belt offered by Rob Gronkowski after defeating the Boise State Broncos at SoFi Stadium.
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Musical artist/rapper Snoop Dogg holds the championship trophy after the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Miami (OH) RedHawks 18-3 to win the 2025 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at On line casino Del Sol Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.
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Actor Keegan-Michael Key receives the sport coin previous to the 2025 Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans recreation between the Louisville Cardinals and the Toledo Rockets at Flagler Credit score Union Stadium on December 23, 2025 in Boca Raton, Florida.
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Comedians Theo Von, left, and Nate Bargatze watch from the sidelines through the first half of the ReliaQuest Bowl between Iowa Hawkeyes and Vanderbilt Commodores at Raymond James Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
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Head coach Jeff Traylor of the UTSA Roadrunners is doused with water by Jamel Hardy #13 through the fourth quarter towards the FIU Panthers within the 2025 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on December 26, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
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Military Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken will get splashed with Powerade after Military beat UConn 41-16 within the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park.
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Interim head coach Drew Svoboda of the North Texas Imply Inexperienced is doused after his workforce defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 49-47 within the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at College Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Northwestern Wildcats gamers dump Gatorade on head coach David Braun of the Northwestern Wildcats after defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas within the 2025 GameAbove Sports activities Bowl at Ford Area on December 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Head coach John Hauser of the Ohio Bobcats is doused with water after successful the sport towards the UNLV Rebels on the Scooter’s Espresso Frisco Bowl at Ford Middle on December 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott is doused with Gatorade after successful the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium Saturday December 27, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. Virginia defeated Missouri 13-7.
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Fresno State Bulldogs head coach Matt Entz is doused with gatorade after defeating the Miami (OH) RedHawks through the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at On line casino Del Sol Stadium.
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Head coach Clay Helton of the Georgia Southern Eagles receives a Powerade dunk after successful the JLab Birmingham Bowl by beating the Appalachian State Mountaineers 29-10 at Protecting Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Interim Head Coach Terry M. Smith of the Penn State Nittany Lions lifts the championship trophy following the sport towards the Clemson Tigers through the 2025 Dangerous Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2025 in New York Metropolis.
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BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) and head coach Kalani Sitake are offered a big pop-tart to eat after they beat the towards the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Tenting World Stadium.
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Ken Seals #9 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with teammates after defeating the USC Trojans within the recreation on the Alamodome on December 30, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
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Head coach Willie Fritz of the Houston Cougars celebrates with the Texas Bowl Trophy after defeating the Louisiana State Tigers through the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
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Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars is called Texas Bowl MVP through the Kinder’s Texas Bowl towards the Louisiana State Tigers at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
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Maverick McIvor #7 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts as he recieves the MVP trophy after his workforce defeated the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to win the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome on December 23, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Outdated Dominion Monarchs hoist the Remedy Bowl trophy after beating the South Florida Bulls at Tenting World Stadium.
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Jacksonville State Gamecocks working again Khristian Lando (22) hoists the trophy as Troy Trojans tackle Jacksonville State Gamecocks through the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. Jacksonville State Gamecocks defeated Troy Trojans 17-13.
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Interim head coach Drew Svoboda of the North Texas Imply Inexperienced raises the championship trophy after his workforce defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 49-47 within the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at College Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Micah Alejado #12 of the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors holds up the Hawai’i Bowl Championship trophy after successful the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl over the California Golden Bears on the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complicated on December 24, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
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NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren receives the trophy after beating Memphis Tigers within the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
This competitors will give us perception into what DeBoer values most in a quarterback and simply how a lot expertise sways him. Neither quarterback is a stiff, however Russell (6-foot-3, 194 kilos) earns particularly excessive marks for his mobility and the best way he strikes within the pocket. Mack is a number of inches taller and slightly thicker (6-6, 235), however strikes nicely sufficient, too.
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Mack made probably the most of his mop-up obligation in Pasadena, California, finishing 11 of 16 passes towards Indiana within the CFP quarterfinals.
The sport was a misplaced trigger by the point Mack entered it, however as DeBoer places it, Mack “was not misplaced.”
“He belonged on the market,” DeBoer mentioned of Mack. “And Keelon’s expertise speaks for itself.”
Whoever wins the job should prioritize getting the ball to Ryan Coleman-Williams. How would the Alabama broad receiver assess every quarterback’s respective strengths?
“Actually, I might say, Keelon’s playmaking, simply making a busted play look precisely the way it’s speculated to go,” Coleman-Williams mentioned. “For Mack, it’s positively his capacity to simply know ball. He bought to take a seat underneath (Michael) Penix. He bought to take a seat underneath (Jalen) Milroe. He bought to take a seat underneath Simpson — three very completely different guys who’ve been profitable in several methods. Having the ability to see that from completely different angles, it helps him.”
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DeBoer wouldn’t tip his hand apart from to say final week we shouldn’t count on a starter to be introduced quickly.
As for what would possibly in the end tilt the scales, he’s in search of the quarterback who’ll present each big-play capacity and ball safety.
“You want huge performs. You want playmakers,” DeBoer mentioned. “Together with that most likely comes slightly little bit of a swagger that your workforce has due to how your quarterback performs. However you additionally must be sure you aren’t shedding video games due to the massive errors.”
Within the meantime, if you wish to get a fuller sense of the quarterback competitors, shut your eyes and pay attention.
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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Community’s senior nationwide school soccer columnist. E mail him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and comply with him on X @btoppmeyer.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama soccer quarterback competitors: This is the most recent intel
