TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) 鈥� This might be the best endorsement Keelon Russell could get in his case to be :
鈥淟iterally, it just feels like you鈥檙e playing a video game when he is in,鈥� standout receiver said.
Russell was the star of Alabama’s spring game Saturday. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 240 yards, with four touchdowns and an interception. Although the Crimson Tide didn’t keep official stats, Russell led his unit to seven scores on nine drives 鈥� four TDs, three field goals, a missed field goal and an interception near the goal line.
He also extended several plays with his legs despite wearing a noncontact jersey.
鈥淵ou never know what you鈥檙e going to get it,鈥� Coleman-Williams added. “Just be there, be in the moment.鈥�
Alabama got an extended look at Russell, a five-star recruit in 2025 who redshirted while sitting behind starter Ty Simpson and backup Austin Mack last season. Simpson is expected to be in next week’s NFL draft, and Mack was slowed by an undisclosed injury.
Mack completed 6 of 12 passes for 101 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He led five drives, scoring on two of them, before leaving the game.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer later revealed that Mack was 鈥渄inged up,鈥� although the injury is not considered a long-term issue.
Mack served as Alabama鈥檚 second-string quarterback last year, completing 24 of 32 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
鈥淲e just had to limit Austin just with some stuff,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭his week was a little bit where Keelon got some more reps just with some things Austin is going through. Austin has been good for the most part but wasn鈥檛 able to finish (on Saturday). But he will be fine.鈥�
Russell seemed more than fine in the spotlight.
After completing 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in two games last season, he has taken developmental steps in his second season. Alabama still has two spring practices remaining this week 鈥� no one expects DeBoer to announce a Week 1 starter anytime soon 鈥� but Russell will enter summer workouts with momentum.
鈥淗e had confidence coming in,鈥� Coleman-Williams said. 鈥淏ut you sit a year behind a very good quarterback and learn from him, and he鈥檚 taking all those intangibles and just putting them in his game.
鈥淗is freshman year, he鈥檇 get into the huddle, and he knew what he was talking about, but it鈥檚 a lot as a quarterback. So just the way he鈥檚 commanded and grown from last year to this year, it鈥檚 light years.鈥�
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