Competition in the quarterback room remains one of the most closely watched storylines for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team this spring, and head coach Kalen DeBoer offered fresh insight following Friday’s second scrimmage.
Speaking with reporters afterward, DeBoer revealed that the Crimson Tide coaching staff made a deliberate effort to keep things balanced when distributing reps among the quarterbacks.
DeBoer had some very interesting comments on how both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell performed on Friday afternoon inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama QB Reps Split Evenly in Key Scrimmage
According to DeBoer, the plan going into the scrimmage was simple: keep things as even as possible.
“We just split it up pretty even, that was the goal. I’m not sure how it exactly ended. I know there was a comment close to the end that I caught where it was close, and we’re just trying to finish it out that way.”
This approach makes a lot of sense given the ongoing quarterback battle. Both quarterbacks need to have even reps with the first team offense so the coaches can have a larger sample size to draw from as they close in on their decision. Consistency and command are of the utmost importance.
Both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell Had Struggles
While the reps may have been evenly distributed, DeBoer didn’t shy away from evaluating the overall performance of Mack and Russell. In fact, he was candid in saying that each quarterback didn’t meet the standard that’s been set this spring.
“I would say today wasn’t their sharpest day.”
DeBoer didn’t place all the blame on the quarterbacks, though, pointing to timing and cohesion, especially along the offensive line, which is going through a complete overhaul itself.
Confidence Still High in Alabama’s QB Room
Despite the ups and downs from Mack and Russell, there is still a lot of confidence in the Alabama quarterback room.
“There’s no doubt that if we had to play a game, there’s some things that they do really well that we’re confident in, that they can execute at a high level.”
This comment from DeBoer reaffirms that, despite some of the struggles, the fundamental ability to make plays is still there for Mack and Russell, and the more reps they each receive, the more consistent they will become.
What This Means Moving Forward
Alabama has one more week of practice remaining this spring before it concludes on Saturday, April 11, inside Bryant-Denny Stadium during the annual A-Day Game in front of the Crimson Tide faithful.
The quarterback battle is far from settled, but Friday’s scrimmage provided a valuable checkpoint. Even on a day that didn’t meet expectations, the focus remains on growth, timing, and mastering both the base offense and newly installed concepts.
DeBoer and his staff will continue to evaluate Mack and Russell to see which guy will give the 2026 Crimson Tide football team the best chance to win games. This battle will likely go into the fall, but each week that passes is one step closer to that decision being made.
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