Kalen DeBoer is back with his trusted ally, Ryan Grubb, but their reunion brings more than just excitement—it’s a decision that could echo past choices and raise some serious questions. As the ghosts of the past loom over Alabama’s new OC, Ryan Grubb faces a dilemma with Keelon Russell, a highly certified playmaker in the 2025 class. Will history repeat itself, or will Grubb’s new handpicked quarterback rise above the weight of expectations? The stakes are as high as the Tuscaloosa sky.

With Ryan Grubb back by his side, it’s time to see what they can build together. The best part? DeBoer now has his own handpicked quarterback. After everything that unfolded with Jalen Milroe last season, he finally gets to move forward with his choice. Keelon Russell stands out as an elite playmaker in the 2025 class, but is it smart to put everything on a true freshman? A similar situation played out with Austin Mack when Ryan Grubb recruited him at Washington, yet Mack has barely made a ripple since arriving at Alabama. The ghost of the past still lingers. Austin Mack was Ryan Grubb’s guy at Washington under Kalen DeBoer. They handpicked him, had him jump a recruiting class, and brought him in early. But now? There’s hardly any sign of his development.

“I think Ryan Grubb coming back to Tuscaloosa really just makes this whole thing interesting. Remember Ryan Grubb when he was at Washington with Kalen DeBoer? Austin Mack is the guy that they handpicked and had him jump a recruiting class, move in early, show up there, and be a member of the Huskies. So, you know, we have not heard much about Austin Mack really since he’s arrived in Tuscaloosa. We haven’t seen anything from him in terms of on-field context. I don’t know how it’s going to play out,” said 247Sports scout Andrew Ivins. History has a way of repeating itself, and this time, Ryan Grubb has to make sure it doesn’t.

A year ago, Mack sat as Washington’s 3rd-string quarterback, giving up his senior season at Folsom High School—just like Husky legend Jake Browning once did—to reclassify early and play for Kalen DeBoer. The former Washington coach convinced him to arrive early and learn from Michael Penix Jr. He never played a snap last season, but that didn’t seem to matter. “I watched Mike work,” Mack said. “That experience was incredible.” But what good is sitting and learning if you never get your shot?

That’s the risk Alabama now faces with Keelon Russell. See, he’s one of the most accurate passers in the 2025 cycle, holding a Top247-best 70.8 percent career completion percentage at the halfway point of his senior season. He can attack all three levels of the field with precision, release the ball quickly, and improvise under pressure.

Even Austin Mack had those same qualities, and that’s exactly what makes this situation so compelling. “You think about Michael Penix when he was at Washington with Ryan Grubb—they wanted to throw it at a high clip, and they needed a quarterback that could move around and was extremely accurate. Doesn’t this feel like I’m describing Keelon Russell? You ask him to make that throw, he’s going to do it,” Ivins said. The talent is undeniable, but the real question is whether Alabama will handle Russell differently than they did Mack. If they truly believe in him, they can’t afford to let history repeat itself.

Kalen DeBoer’s offensive mastermind

Kalen DeBoer spent some time in a tough spot, navigating the storm alone after Ryan Grubb left. But now, with Grubb back in the fold at Alabama, everything’s finally coming together. Even DeBoer seems at ease having his old friend by his side again. “Great friend of mine. I think the world of him as a football coach and obviously as a person too. I know he is working through his process just after what last season brought. Just kind of see what he does there. Here for him whenever he needs me, and that’s always going to be the case,” he said.

Moreover, their bond runs deep, stretching back to 2007 when DeBoer brought Grubb on as the run game coordinator and special teams coach at Sioux Falls. From there, their careers remained intertwined—Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, Washington—you name it, Grubb was right there with him. When DeBoer took the head coaching job at Fresno State, one of his first calls went straight to Grubb. That kind of trust doesn’t happen overnight.

And Grubb’s track record proves why DeBoer keeps him close. As an offensive coordinator, he’s had a knack for building high-powered offenses, with his teams consistently racking up over 400 yards per game. His 2022 Washington squad took things to another level, averaging a staggering 515 yards per game. His ability to craft explosive, efficient offenses has made him one of the most respected minds in the game.

Now, with Grubb back in Tuscaloosa, expectations are through the roof. Alabama isn’t a program that waits around for success, and DeBoer knows that. But with Grubb calling plays, he also knows the Tide’s offense is in the right hands. And with Keelon Russell in the mix, let’s see what Grubb can do with this guy.