Remember those tight quarterback battles down in the SEC? Well, after this weekend’s scrimmages, it sounds like one guy is pulling ahead, and it’s not necessarily the one with more experience. Keelon Russell, Alabama’s highly-touted redshirt freshman, led the majority of scoring drives for the Crimson Tide, outperforming redshirt junior Austin Mack. That’s a huge shift in Tuscaloosa, and it tells you everything about the immediate impact this young gun is having.
Bama’s Freshman QB Is Making Moves
This isn’t just chatter, folks. According to 247Sports intel, Alabama’s offense moved the ball way more effectively with Russell under center. While Mack had a solid outing, Russell produced a few more “wow” plays after both signal callers had a slow start. It’s not a shock when you consider Russell’s mobility and elusiveness, traits that could definitely be a game-changer for DeBoer’s offense. This kid was the No. 2 player in the 2025 signing class for a reason, right? He’s got those elite tools that make you stop and watch. DeBoer might be playing it cool, saying he doesn’t “feel closer” to naming a starter, noting both QBs improved as the scrimmage went on. But when one guy is consistently leading scoring drives, that’s a tough fact to ignore. Russell’s got an early edge, and the Crimson Tide faithful have to be pumped about what he’s already showing.
Freshman Fire in Knoxville and Nashville
The quarterback drama isn’t just an Alabama thing, either. Over in Knoxville, Tennessee is going to have a freshman starting no matter what. It’s a true freshman five-star Faizon Brandon against redshirt freshman four-star George MacIntyre. MacIntyre’s got the advantage of knowing Josh Heupel’s system for a full year, but Brandon brings that true star potential as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2026 cycle. Who’s gonna seize it? That’s what we want to know!
Then there’s Vanderbilt, where the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class, Jared Curtis, chose the Commodores over Georgia. He’s battling veteran Blaze Berlowitz. Berlowitz’s experience is valuable, but Curtis’s upside has been glaringly apparent since he stepped on campus. It truly feels like it’s only a matter of time until Curtis is the top option for Vanderbilt. The big question is whether “a matter of time” means Week 1.
The regular season is right around the corner, and these battles are heating up big time. Can Russell keep this momentum and lock down the Bama job for Week 1? Will Brandon or MacIntyre seize the reins for Tennessee? And can Jared Curtis defy expectations and start immediately for Vandy? We’ll find out soon enough when the lights come on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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