ESPN insider reveals Alabama QB ‘best positioned’ amid ‘legit race’ for starting job

The Alabama quarterback race could get real interesting, according to ESPN’s Chris Low. Based on his observations, Ty Simpson is the leader in the clubhouse but it’s far from over.

“My take on (the Alabama) QB situation after being on campus: Ty Simpson best positioned to be starter, but has to go win it,” Low wrote on Twitter. “Hasn’t done it yet. Austin Mack is battling and has some real support among players. Keelon Russell most talented of the three, but a freshman. Legit race.”

If Mack has support, as Low suggests, Simpson better watch his “six,” since Mack is right on his tail. Perhaps the intriguing part of this is Russell making some noise, despite being a freshman for Alabama.

As a member of the Class of 2025, Russell was a five-star-plus recruit out of Duncanville (Texas) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 quarterback in the class and the No. 2 overall prospect in the class.

Alabama QB race is going to be tight

Earlier this month, Kalen DeBoer gave a detailed breakdown of the quarterbacks after the team’s second spring scrimmage. It wasn’t even across the board, but there were some noteworthy takeaways.

“I don’t want to say it was even across the board, but they all kind of got their shot with the 1s and 2s,” DeBoer said. “Keelon’s doing a great job, but with Ty and Austin, just because they’re older, Keelon’s definitely working with the 2s. He’ll get one reps from time to time, but that’s no indication of really where we feel like he’s at. He’s killing it, doing a great job. You can see, when he’s out there, he’s getting more and more comfortable moving the ball down the field. If there’s a throw to be made, he’ll make the throw, that’s for sure. Just the learning curve that comes with being young compared to the other two guys. 

“There’s a little bit more, as far as understanding the offense and trying to continue to install things. They have a grasps of the basics from day one. They’re all three making throws, making some big-time throws. Thought they all moved the chains at times when they maybe had their backs to the wall, in some second- and third-and-long situations, where they found a way to make a big throw. Obviously someone has to catch it, too.

“They’re continuing to build trust with the offensive line, and then I think it has to go the other way, too, the offensive line is getting used to cadences and getting used to what guys do. Does he usually break to the outside and scramble? Some guys just have those types of instinctual things they do, but they’re all a little different.”