Kalen DeBoer Reveals the Most Important Trait He Wants in Alabama’s Starting QB

“I think it’s just continued growth. They’re all on the right track. They’re all super invested, as you would expect,” DeBoer surmised. “I talked about a healthy competition and who they are as people. They are finding their ways to lead in their own way, because that’s probably the hardest thing when you have a quarterback battle.”

“You want them not to step on each other’s toes, but they also need to kind of take it and run with it when they have their opportunities, and they need to speak up. That’s when you find out who the guys are that the team, when the rest of the team follows along, not just the players on the field, but who they are as leaders.”

“These guys are, again, balancing the reps. Keelon [Russell] started lower, and as he earned more and more reps. We gave him those. They’re all making those strides in their ways, taking the steps. I’ve mentioned many times we’re not where we need to be. That might sound like a knock on those guys, but that’s expected.”

“There’s a progression, and there’s a process these guys have to be on. None of them have taken this overwhelming number of college snaps, especially in a game, much less, you know, with the ones on the practice field. So, we’re trying to keep them moving, speed up the process for all of them, while we’re also balancing the reps that each of them is getting. They’re earning those reps.

“I appreciate the way they’ve handled it. Not trying to press too much is the thing for them. I think the pressure of fighting for a quarterback job is probably as stressful as anything they’re going to go through. Yeah, there are moments in a game when, you know, a hundred thousand people are screaming.”

“That’s pretty stressful, but what are they doing, trying to win that job? That’s managing some level of stress, too. They’ve got to perform under those conditions. I think that’s one of the adverse situations that you put these guys in before they step on the football field in game one that actually can help them.”

DeBoer is evaluating his three potential starters, Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell, in a fascinating way. Whichever quarterback separates himself from the pack will have the high hopes of Tuscaloosa on his shoulders. All that remains to be seen is whether he can handle the pressure.

KEEP READING: Kalen DeBoer Opens Up About Building Trust With Alabama Players in Year 2

The College Football Playoff has become the standard for the Alabama Crimson Tide. DeBoer is now searching for a starter who can once again lead Alabama to the promised land. It remains to be seen who he chooses, but Alabama has some good options ahead of the 2025-26 season.

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