Alabama QB competition: Kalen DeBoer reveals timeline for decision, what he looks for in starter

With Ty Simpson off to the NFL, Alabama now finds itself in the early stages of a quarterback competition as spring practice heats up. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are vying for the job, and Kalen DeBoer shared a potential timeline for a decision.

DeBoer, speaking with Josh Pate, said he expects the competition to go into the fall. That’s how it went last year when Simpson beat out Mack and Russell for the role, though DeBoer admitted things went quicker than he thought they would during spring ball.

As for what he looks for in a starter, DeBoer said it comes down to leadership and knowledge of the offense. Those will be key as the competition rolls along.

“We’ve got to choose the best one when we really know,” DeBoer said on Josh Pate’s College Football Show. “I think that’s going to be something that drags on to the fall. We’ll see. We declared Ty the starter a little bit earlier than I would’ve anticipated a year ago. We’re always talking about it, as well, and each day in practice, making sure we’re communicating as a coaching staff. I really credit Coach [Ryan] Grubb, Bryan Ellis now is the quarterbacks coach and give some props to [former quarterbacks coach] Nick Sheridan, how that room operates, it was with Ty last year and now it’s without him.

“But Keelon and Austin, and the respect – really, the way they appear to care for each other, and I think it’s pretty genuine. They’ve got me fooled if it’s not, in a big way. They lead – not together, because they’re different. But they really are leading this team, and when they’re out there, both sides of the ball really appreciate how they’ve approached it: team-first. But they also are doing their part to lead this football team.”

Mack joined DeBoer at Alabama in 2024 and has served as a backup ever since. He took over for Simpson in the second half of last year’s Rose Bowl against Indiana and completed 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards in the blowout loss. Mack has seen action in five games during his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, while Russell made two appearances as a freshman in 2025.

Through spring practice, Kalen DeBoer said the two have shown their leadership abilities, particularly with an offense that has plenty of new faces. That’s why it won’t be an easy decision for the Alabama coaching staff.

“The offense, in particular, with so many new linemen and a couple other guys and the backfield that needs some guys to step up, I really appreciate what Austin and Keelon are doing in their leadership role,” DeBoer said. “At some point, there’s going to be a hard time for one of them, when we do decide and move forward with a starter.”