Alabama’s Ryan Grubb Can’t Stop Gushing Over Freshman QB Keelon Russell
Alabama might have Ty Simpson penciled in as the starting quarterback this fall, but don’t think for a second that freshman Keelon Russell is just warming the bench without making noise.
The young QB — a five-star recruit and one of the top names in the 2025 class — has been turning heads during fall camp. And Bama’s new offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, is clearly impressed.
In a recent post-practice interview, Grubb praised Russell’s poise and presence, especially for someone so fresh out of high school. “He’s super composed,” Grubb said. “Even when things don’t go his way, he slows the game down. That’s not something you teach — that’s just in him.”
Grubb made it clear Russell has the tools to be special. Combine that natural calm with time in the system and, as Grubb put it, “he’ll just keep getting better.”
And let’s not forget — this isn’t just hype. Russell’s high school résumé is stacked: over 3,000 passing yards and nearly 50 touchdowns in his senior year alone, plus a few rushing TDs for good measure. As a junior, he led his team to a 14-1 record with over 3,200 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air.
So, yeah — Ty Simpson might be QB1 for now, but the Tide may have a future star quietly loading in the background.
Alabama enters Year 2 under head coach Kalen DeBoer after finishing 9-4 last season. They open the 2025 campaign ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25, with a big test right out of the gate: a showdown against Florida State on August 30.
