Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team took part in the first scrimmage of the spring on Friday morning. One of the most important position battles in college football is residing in Tuscaloosa as Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are competing for the starting quarterback job for the Tide.
Following the scrimmage, Coach DeBoer met the media to discuss how the team looked, and of course, one of the leading questions was how the quarterbacks performed.
What Kalen DeBoer Said About Austin Mack, Keelon Russell
When originally asked about the quarterbacks, DeBoer cracked a joke and began to talk about a pair of true freshman QBs, Jett Thomalla and Tayden Kaawa. “Well, Jett Thomalla and Tayden Kaawa, they’re doing a great job,” DeBoer said with a smile.
Then DeBoer quickly moved to discussing the actual quarterback competition, “They did a great job, really,” DeBoer said. “I love the aggressiveness that they have. They’re not gun-shy. They go and make plays attacking whenever they can get the right opportunities with the throws, and they’re making the throws. And the guys are coming through, making the plays for them and catching it.”
Coach DeBoer was also impressed with the confidence in the offensive line that each quarterback showed.
“I think they’re gaining more confidence in the offensive line each and every day. That’s going to take time. We know there’s a lot of faces up front, but they’re clear with their communication. There’s not a lot that’s catching them off guard, and so they can go out and let their skills speak for themselves and make the plays.”
Below is a video released by Alabama of DeBoer’s entire post-scrimmage press conference.
What’s Next for Austin Mack, Keelon Russell
Mack and Russell will continue to battle it out in Tuscaloosa over the remainder of the spring and into fall camp, but for the sake of spring practice, Alabama has two more remaining scrimmages.
The first of which is set for next Friday, and the final will take place on Saturday, April 11, in front of the Crimson Tide faithful in the annual A-Day Game.
While it is still early in the competition, it’s nice to hear that both QBs are performing well and building momentum towards a thrilling battle that is sure to last until Alabama kicks off the season on September 5 against East Carolina.
Alabama QBs Austin Mack, Keelon Russell Shine in Spring Scrimmage