Take Keelon Russell off Alabama's roster and the first thing you'd miss is No.2 5★, national recruit.
6′3″ · 207 lb · Duncanville, TX · Duncanville
The numbers
passing yards · 2026
1 TD · 2 INT · 8.4 per attempt
2 games into 2026 so far
Swing playSwung Kentucky from 59% to 82% to win.Alabama at Kentucky · 45-17
oh dang a pick 6r/CFB game thread · ▲ 1His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 quarterback for Alabama. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
Buzz vs Tape
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
I like Jimmy Stein's opinion on Keelon Russell being a mix of Bryce and Tua. That he has their tendencies and he also believes (As I do also) that Keelon has a ceiling that is out of sight. Look if Austin Mack starts, I am behind the kid…
Also worth knowing:
“Keelon Russell # 12 will be the starting QB.”
Fan claims · every quote verified verbatim
For as good as a scrambler as Russell is, his poise in and around the pocket in passing situations is just as if not more impressive.
Based on 1 comment across 1 thread · Sep 7, 2026 · via rolltide
Keelon Russell
Keelon Russell is a cornerstone for Alabama — measured against the line he joined.
5★ · NATIONAL RECRUIT
No.2
recruiting national rank
AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15
His career
Career arc
Badges
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Kalen DeBoer — 13-4 over that span.
Where this profile ranks vs the QB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / att (92nd percentile). Concern: pass yards (0th percentile).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Pass Profile · True throw depth (charted plays)
Adjusted ANY/A, sack rate, and where the yards came from
Adjusted ANY/A
5.8855 of 75 QBsSack rate
8.6%70 of 75 QBsSacked on 8.6% of dropbacks (70 of 75) and Adjusted ANY/A trails the field (55 of 75).
Adjusted ANY/A uses full-season box-score totals (attempts, yards, TDs, INTs); sack rate is play-by-play-derived.
Behind LOS · Negative air yds
Short · 0–9 air yds
Middle · 10–19 air yds
Deep · 20+ air yds
Overall 63.5% completion on 52 attempts · 57% of attempts thrown 0–9 air yds.
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 222 YDS/g, 0.5 TD/g, 8.3 YPA, 1.0 INT/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kalen DeBoer
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 45–17
at Kentucky
188 yds · 1 TD · 2 INT · QBR 38.9 · -9 rush yds (8 car)
Dominant 28-point win on the road against Kentucky.
With D. Hill — 104 rush yds (18 car) · 1 TD · A. Asparuhov — 54 AVG · 54 LONG · 1 NO
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 48-10vs East Carolina | 18/30 | 256 | 0 | 0 | 8.5 | — | Season-high 256 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 45-17@ Kentucky | 16/23 | 188 | 1 | 2 | 8.2 | 38.9 | |
| Total | 34/53 | 444 | 1 | 2 | 8.3 | 38.9 |
2026 Outlook
Alabama
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Quarterback · Alabama
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Alabama · Last season: 11-4 (AP #11) · Talent rank #4 · 2026 recruiting class #2
Heisman futures · sportsbook market
#12 in market ▲ from #30 · 6 books
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peaked at #39 this season.
NIL Opportunities 2025 Played in two games as a backup and completed 11-of-15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns ... added three rushes for 17 total yards ... named an offensive (skill) player of the week by the Alabama coaches for his efforts against Eastern Illinois. ULM: Took advantage of...