Kalen DeBoer predicts Keelon Russell will make biggest jump among Alabama quarterbacks

Kalen DeBoer is still overseeing a quarterback battle as Alabama begins fall camp on Wednesday. Most of the buzz surrounds Ty Simpson but without an official decision made, the door is open for Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. After spring practice, now is the time to show who has made the most improvement.

Russell will wind up being the one who makes the biggest jump, in DeBoer’s opinion. Something he describes as natural, Russell is still in the early days of his college career. Getting up to speed is still a part of the process and after Day 1, positive reviews from the Alabama head coach.

“Probably Keelon is going to be the one that you’re going to see the biggest jump, naturally,” DeBoer said. “That was good. He’s making quick decisions and not thinking too much.”

Even as Simpson remains the favorite, Russell is still receiving a ton of hype in Tuscaloosa. He played high school football at Duncanville (TX), where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. Russell was the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Being an early enrollee comes with a ton of advantages. Going through spring is one of them and now, Russell is ahead of a few of his classmates. These practices leading into the 2025 season allow his development to take off at a faster rate.

DeBoer went on to speak highly of the other two in similar fashion as well. Specifically Simpson, who was praised for being able to take “gimme” plays during live periods. Those came more often for him per DeBoer, adding to the level of trust in Simpson.

“I like the mindset of our quarterbacks because when you can trust your quarterback to go through his progression and be okay with checking down and not forcing something, you can call, as a playcaller, a lot more balls down the field,” DeBoer said. “And know that it’s not just going to be an incomplete pass or explosive play. There’s going to be a progression and there’s going to be some type of movement down the field that’s going to put you in manageable downs and distances where it’s second, third, or fourth.”

No timeline has been set for a starting QB to be officially named. Alabama opens its season on Aug. 30 away from Tuscaloosa, traveling to Tallahassee to play Florida State.