Keelon Russell delivered plenty of positives in his first start as Alabama’s quarterback, helping the Crimson Tide open the 2026 college football season with a 48-10 win over East Carolina.
Russell rushed 13 times for a team-high 86 yards and one touchdown, displaying the dual-threat ability that helped him win Alabama’s offseason quarterback competition.
However, head coach Kalen DeBoer still found one part of Russell’s performance he didn’t like: how frequently the sophomore passer finished runs without sliding and exposed himself to unnecessary contact.
“It’s something we’ll talk about a lot,” DeBoer said after the game, according to Chase Goodbread.
As Russell’s carries created opportunities for defenders to hit him steadily, DeBoer stressed that the quarterback must become more aware of the situation at the end of runs.
As Alabama’s starter, Russell should avoid unnecessary hits as much as possible to protect his health and availability throughout the season. Russell acknowledged it after the victory and said the concern has spread beyond the Crimson Tide’s staff.
“It’s not even just the coaches. It’s the players, too,” Russell said. “They want me to be protected. I’ve got to do a better job on that. They’re going to see a lot of (individual) drills of sliding this week.”
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On Saturday, Russell completed 18 of 30 passes for 256 yards without throwing an interception. He also explained why he naturally looks to create plays with his legs when the original design breaks down.
“The quarterback is the playmaker on the offense,” Russell said. “If you have the ball in your hand, you’ve got to make it seem like if the play breaks down, if everything goes bad, you’ve got to be the toughest man on the field.”
Alabama next faces Kentucky in Week 2, giving Russell his first taste of an SEC matchup since he took over the starting role.
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