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The Alabama Crimson Tide have officially announced a starting quarterback for the 2026 college football season.
Revealed on Saturday afternoon , Keelon Russell has been named the starter at quarterback for the Crimson Tide, beating out Austin Mack in fall camp. As a result, Russell will start for Alabama against East Carolina in Week 1.
Entering his sophomore season, Russell came to Tuscaloosa as the headline name in the Crimson Tide's 2025 class with a significant amount of hype. Per 247Sports , Russell was the highest-rated recruit in Alabama football history, and went on to play in two games a year ago as a true freshman, completing 11-of-15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Here is a look at how social media reacted Saturday afternoon following the announcement of Russell as Alabama's new starting quarterback.
Sources: Alabama has named Keelon Russell the team’s starting quarterback. He won the job on camp over Austin Mack. pic.twitter.com/ckgiQ4JEoS
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell has officially been named the starting quarterback. Read more here: https://t.co/yO1M9qD9Yt pic.twitter.com/9fJVMxbgOX
— Yea Alabama (@yea_ala) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell was a 3 Star committed to SMU at one point He then: - won Elite 11 MVP - flipped to Alabama - won Gatorade National Player of the year - finished as a 5-Star Plus+ recruit Now, he’s been officially named QB1 for the Crimson Tide 🐘 https://t.co/jyugoaVADg https://t.co/J1O26mQikP pic.twitter.com/50eYiPzfU9
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell is extremely talented, and I love the upside for Alabama. The only concern is that the early part of the schedule (ECU, at UK, FSU, SC) becomes slightly trickier when you're starting a guy with only 37 career snaps at QB. You suddenly wish that Chattanooga game was…
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) August 22, 2026
Everyone is looking back at quotes about Keelon Russell, and I remembered this one from WR Ryan Coleman-Williams after Alabama football's A-Day: “It just feels like you’re playing a video game when 12's in." pic.twitter.com/Sv9AoEVOw0
— Matthew Mason (@MatthewMason__) August 22, 2026
Will discuss this more tomorrow night But Keelon Russell’s play and the team’s reaction to him made this decision very obvious to the staff Special player https://t.co/Q23VDlA6Bf
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell is an absolute stud…playmaker with the ball in his hands. BUT….Can Alabama figure out how to run the ball? Its top 3 RBs avg under 4.0 YPC last season, & Alabama ranked 125th in FBS in rush yards/game. https://t.co/m3g6mhxZYW
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) August 22, 2026
Naming starter timelines under Kalen DeBoer: Jake Haener: 4 days before opener Michael Penix: 11 days Ty Simpson: 19 days Keelon Russell: 14 days
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell was the inevitable starter for Alabama. Only guy with the potential to mitigate the issues of a hampered RB room and unproven O-Line. Russell will have 5 games to settle in before the gauntlet of Georgia, Tennessee, A&M and LSU. 5-0 is a must to start the season
— Theodore Fernandez (@TheoFernandez__) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell gives Alabama a +++ athlete at QB, which should help them to run the football. The danger is having a freshman at QB with no running game continuously puts a young player in 3rd + long situations which leads to turnovers and not picking up first downs. https://t.co/1RrgXTy9jJ
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) August 22, 2026
Officially Keelon Russell SZN 🙌 pic.twitter.com/igF3gSmWL5
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) August 22, 2026
Keelon Russell makes Alabama football much more dangerous. There may be some growing pains, but I’m excited to see dynamic quarterback play in Tuscaloosa again.
— Joe Gaither (@JoeGaither6) August 22, 2026
Best thing to happen to Russell was to be pushed in camp and earn it. He was the more explosive player with the ability to create and make big plays going back to the spring. He only solidified his position this preseason. Big future ahead for him. https://t.co/ZiJmFswHdd
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Social media erupts as Alabama names starting quarterback for 2026
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