Kalen DeBoer doesn’t want to wait long to name a starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
It makes sense, too. Remember, DeBoer entered 2024 knowing Jalen Milroe would be the starting quarterback. He then went into the 2025 season knowing that Ty Simpson would be “the guy” under center.
This offseason has been different in Tuscaloosa because DeBoer has not been able to distinguish between redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell.
They entered camp and the first scrimmage of the fall locked in a quarterback battle. That’s not one DeBoer wants to last long, though.
“Heading into camp, Kalen DeBoer told me he’d like to have a week-and-a-half of camp with a named starter,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel said on Wednesday.
The Tide kick off their 2026 season against East Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 5. If DeBoer is looking for a named starter for at least a week-and-a-half of camp, that would put that announcement right around Aug. 19.
The Tide had a scrimmage on Thursday morning, and per Matt Stahl of AL.com, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said that the quarterback battle likely won’t conclude until after the second scrimmage of fall camp.
Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb evaluating both of Alabama’s QBs
And as far as which quarterback will be named the starter, it’s still anyone’s guess.
Russell may have the most upside as a former five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class. Mack has been around the system a bit longer, though. He was originally recruited to play for DeBoer (and Grubb) at Washington.
Speaking of Grubb, it’s worth noting that he knows exactly what he’s looking for as he and DeBoer evaluate these two quarterbacks.
“I’m definitely looking for command because they’re both capable physically of making all the plays,” he has said. “Now you’re starting to look at decision-making, completion percentages, turnover, explosives, and how all those things obviously weigh out. But also, does it look like this guy believes, ‘like I’m going to make this play, and both those guys are getting better at that every day.”
