Well, Bama’s QB room has been a game of musical chairs ever since Jalen Milroe packed his bags for the pros. But now? The dust has finally settled, and things are getting downright spicy. With Ryan Grubb taking up the OC charge and the roster starting to come together, Kalen DeBoer is out there making sure he is establishing the standard. Though the system is new, the competition remains fierce: three quarterbacks vying for one starting position. Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell are all in contention, and DeBoer is not holding back on setting high expectations.

Let’s get straight to the point. If all these players really want to leave their mark on Kalen DeBoer and win the QB1 race, they really need to show impressive reps at the spring game. Look, after a disappointing season, the team is also losing depth. That’s another reason to be anxious. Now, it’s not like their 2025 QB room is not talented, but Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell still remain unproven. It’s all on Coach DeBoer’s shoulders to bring his own style into this season’s game.

Moreover, Kalen DeBoer is pretty clear about what he expects from all three of his quarterbacks this spring game, as he says, “We’ll kind of see how the spring goes, but that’s what we’re really expecting to have going into this fall. Just have to pour into these three guys. They are taking it all in, and I know they’re going to give everything they have.” Turns out it’s kind of a do-or-die situation for all of them. And DeBoer is making sure that he can bring out the best from all of them. But how?

Now, first up, we have Jalen Milroe’s successor, Ty Simpson. It’s been a long wait for Simpson, but DeBoer’s perseverance has been rewarded. “When I think of Ty, I think of just him sticking it out to get to this point, and this being the moment he’s been working for,” Kalen DeBoer said. Simpson spent two seasons backing up Milroe before playing six games last year, throwing for 167 yards and scoring a rushing TD. His experience puts him at the front of the competition, as Bama needs a strong player with accuracy and control, something that Jalen Milroe lacked.

But even Austin Mack isn’t far behind. If loyalty has a face, then it’s Austin who not only followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama but also stayed there waiting for his turn patiently. “I think he’s developed a lot of respect because he has worked extremely hard,” DeBoer noted. Plus, Mack killed it on the scout team, and remember that touchdown pass against Mercer? Plus, his 34 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns in his sole season at Huskies also count.

Then there’s Russell—the five-star phenom with that undeniable swagger. Well, Kalen DeBoer always knew he had “it” from the moment he evaluated him. “It was very evident that he had the ‘it’ factor that you need in that leader in that room,” he said. And let’s not forget even top-ranked recruits don’t skip small steps. As DeBoer mentioned, “This is his first spring, his first taste of college ball, so there will be a lot of growth moments.” But wait, are insiders still doubting Keelon just because he’s a freshman? Duh!

Insider raises doubts on Kalen DeBoer’s future leader

Well, if resumes could win championships, Keelon Russell would already have a statue outside Bryant-Denny. The guy dominated high school football, racking up over 4,000 yards and 55 touchdowns in his final season at Duncanville. He’s not just any top prospect—he’s the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. And now, he boasts a feat no other Bama player can match. In the latest 247Sports composite update, Russell achieved a perfect 100 rating, officially becoming the highest-rated recruit in Alabama history.

Even SEC Insider Cris Gordy on the Locked On SEC podcast highlights the same thing, talking about the buzz Keelon Russell is creating even before making a single snap for Bama. But the catch here is Cris has his own doubts about Keelon’s QB1 role, as he said, “And then yeah, Keelon Russell had been an SMU commit, flipped to Alabama, and, you know, goes and wins the Elite 11. So yeah, I think a lot of people are excited to see what happens there. I don’t know that I’d expect him to take the starting job as a freshman, but, you know, stranger things have happened.” Now, we all know that putting all your hopes in a newbie is a risky poker game no one wants to play.

Just see, even Deion Sanders has to hire Kaidon Salter to make his QB room strong because only Julian Lewis might not handle the whole pressure. Now, even Kalen DeBoer is on the same path. To add to the intensity, Alabama has entered the Keisean Henderson sweepstakes. On3’s X account confirmed that the Tide has extended an offer to the 5-star QB from Houston Legacy, setting up a tough competition with Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, Michigan, and Texas A&M. That clearly means that Keelon Russell’s future is hanging by a thin thread.

Now, that’s just diabolical. With so many QBs fighting for the starting role, things are looking pretty confusing for Kalen DeBoer. Let’s see, despite all the doubts swirling over his position, if Keelon Russell becomes the ultimate crown jewel of his team or not!