Alabama Quarterbacks Showcase Skills at A-Day Scrimmage

Keelon Russell outperforms Austin Mack in front of Crimson Tide fans

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:10pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic motion of a college football quarterback dropping back to pass, with the player's body and uniform broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, creating a sense of energy and movement.Alabama's quarterback competition heats up as Keelon Russell and Austin Mack showcase their skills in the annual A-Day spring scrimmage.Tuscaloosa Today

Alabama's quarterbacks Austin Mack and Keelon Russell took the field at the annual A-Day spring scrimmage, with Russell emerging as the standout performer. Russell completed 21 of 33 passes for 242 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception, while Mack went 6-for-12 with 101 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 pick. Head coach Kalen DeBoer noted that Mack was 'dinged up' this week, leading to his early exit from the scrimmage.

Why it matters

The quarterback battle between Mack and Russell has been a major storyline this spring for the Crimson Tide. With the departure of longtime starter Bryce Young, Alabama is looking to find its next signal caller, and this A-Day scrimmage provided the first public glimpse of the competition. Russell's strong performance has given him an early edge, but the race is far from over as the team has one more week of spring practice before the competition continues into fall camp.

The details

Russell pieced together longer drives, moved around the pocket more efficiently, and missed on fewer throws than Mack during the scrimmage. Russell did have one interception in the red zone, but overall his demeanor and playmaking ability impressed the offensive line. Mack had a slow start, stalling on his first drive, but bounced back with a touchdown pass later in the game. Freshmen Jett Thomala and Tayden Kaawa also saw brief playing time, but the focus remains on the battle between Mack and Russell to be Alabama's starting quarterback.

  • The annual A-Day spring scrimmage took place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Alabama has one more week of spring practice remaining before the quarterback competition continues into fall camp.

The players

Keelon Russell

A quarterback competing to be Alabama's starting signal caller, Russell had an impressive outing at the A-Day scrimmage, completing 21 of 33 passes for 242 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

Austin Mack

Another quarterback vying for the starting job at Alabama, Mack went 6-for-12 with 101 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Head coach Kalen DeBoer noted that Mack was 'dinged up' this week, leading to his early exit from the scrimmage.

Kalen DeBoer

The head coach of the Alabama football team, DeBoer provided insight into the quarterback competition, noting that Mack was 'dinged up' this week.

Michael Carroll

An offensive lineman for Alabama, Carroll praised Russell's presence and leadership in the huddle.

Ryan Coleman-Williams

A wide receiver for Alabama, Coleman-Williams commented on the different strengths of Mack and Russell, noting that 'both of them are just making plays in different ways.'

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What they’re saying

“He definitely does have a presence to him. He's confident in himself. He knows when to calm down the huddle, when to pick it up, and tell us to pick up the tempo, so he's a great guy, a great quarterback.”

— Michael Carroll, Offensive Lineman

“You got a chance to see Keelon's playmaking ability with Mack standing tall in the pocket, and he's so confident. Both of them are just making plays in different ways. That's pretty much what we get day in and day out, so it's always a joy to come to practice.”

— Ryan Coleman-Williams, Wide Receiver

What’s next

The team still has one more week of spring practice remaining before the quarterback competition continues into fall camp, where the battle between Mack and Russell to be Alabama's starting signal caller will likely extend deep into August.

The takeaway

While Russell emerged as the standout performer in the A-Day scrimmage, the quarterback race at Alabama remains wide open. Both Mack and Russell have shown the ability to make plays, and the competition will likely continue well into the fall as the Crimson Tide look to find their next starting quarterback.