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What Keelon Russell brings to Alabama football’s QB battle: ‘He’s pretty elite’

He faces tough odds as the long true freshman competing for Alabama football’s starting quarterback job, but Keelon Russell has already impressed Kalen DeBoer. After the first practice of spring ball on Monday, the Crimson Tide’s head coach was asked how Russell ranked in terms of freshman QB readiness, compared to what he had seen throughout his career.

DeBoer gave a glowing review of the five-star youngster.

“He’s up there,” DeBoer said. “He certainly is. He’s got a long way to go because I think that’s the way he looks at it. He’s excited about what this growth’s going to be even during this spring. But his ceiling and what he accomplished through what you can see on the high school film, he’s a pretty elite quarterback coming in as a high school senior, current freshman for us.”

Russell was initially committed to SMU before flipping to Alabama. He won the Elite 11 MVP after joining the Crimson Tide’s 2024 recruiting class.

He gained weight in the leadup to spring football, going from 175 pounds to 192 when the Crimson Tide’s roster was updated Monday.

“He looks good right now,” DeBoer said. “Strong and moves around. He’s just a good all-around athlete. The weight program, certainly for any new guy, is going to be critical. It’s good to get that first phase under your belt. That’s why being an early enrollee is so important. Obviously now and through the spring, the reason, there’s multiple reasons, but one of the reasons why we go every other day and not back-to-back ever is just so we can get big days of lifting in, really, a minimum three times a week.”

Russell is competing with two returnees to replace Jalen Milroe as the Crimson Tide’s quarterback. Ty Simpson, the presumed frontrunner, served as UA’s primary backup for the past two seasons, while Austin Mack followed DeBoer from Washington before the 2024 campaign.

On Monday, DeBoer shared what he is looking for from whoever eventually wins the job.

“It’s got to be a guy who can deliver the ball, command the huddle, command everything we do with the team,” DeBoer said. “That presence, that belief and confidence in your signal caller. It starts with a lot of that — just the belief. The belief comes because you’re making the throws and you’re getting the ball in a fashion where they can go make their plays and reap the rewards of all the work they’ve put in.”

Alabama continues spring practice through April 12, when it will play the A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The spring game will not be televised.

General

Rockets-Thunder free livestream: How to watch NBA game, TV, schedule

The Oklahoma City Thunder play against the Houston Rockets in an NBA game tonight. The matchup will begin at 7 p.m. CT on NBA TV. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Thunder enter this matchup with a 49-11 record, and they have won three consecutive games. In their most recent game, the Thunder defeated San Antonio 146-132.

During the victory, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams led the Oklahoma City offense. The two players combined to score 72 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team in points and assists this season.

The Rockets enter this matchup with a 37-23 record, and they have won two of their last three games. However, the team is coming off a 113-103 loss against Sacramento.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Rockets will need to rely on their star guard Jalen Green. He leads the team in scoring, as he averages nearly 22 points per game.

Fans can watch this NBA game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

General

Kalen DeBoer reveals what he’s looking for in Alabama football’s next QB

Alabama football is one day into spring practice, meaning the Crimson Tide’s quarterback battle is already underway. With Jalen Milroe off to the NFL, Kalen DeBoer will be choosing between three options, with returnees Ty Simpson and Austin Mack competing alongside true freshman Keelon Russell.

Speaking to reporters after he came off the practice field in Tuscaloosa Monday, DeBoer was asked what the winner of the competition will show him.

Simpson enters the battle as the presumed frontrunner, after serving as Milroe’s primary backup for the past two seasons. He’s the lone quarterback holdover from Nick Saban’s tenure as head coach.

Mack joined the Crimson Tide as a transfer from Washington, following DeBoer after redshirting his freshman season with the Huskies. He saw the field briefly against Mercer last year, and new UA offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was his primary recruiter at Washington.

Russell joins up as a five-star prospect from Texas. He was initially committed to SMU before flipping to Alabama, just before winning the Elite 11.

“He’s up there,” DeBoer said when asked where Russell ranks in terms of readiness among freshman quarterbacks. “He certainly is. He’s got a long way to go because I think that’s the way he looks at it. He’s excited about what this growth’s going to be even during this spring. But his ceiling and what he accomplished through what you can see on the high school film, he’s a pretty elite quarterback coming in as a high school senior current freshman for us.”

The position battle isn’t likely to be resolved during spring practice. Even after the first of 15 sessions, DeBoer was cagey about what the three signal-callers showed.

“It’s something that, they’re all at different points,” DeBoer said. “Few things procedure-wise that were a little different. Good to see those guys all operate through that. They had their times where, of course, they looked really good and times where they got to continue to grow and get better.”

Alabama will continue spring practice through April 12, when the A-Day game is scheduled.

General

‘Fox NFL Sunday’ analyst calls it quits: ‘I’m going to miss it’

After more than 30 years as a Fox studio analyst, former NFL coach Jimmy Johnson is retiring from the network, he announced Monday on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”

“As you know, probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my career, and that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships, was at Fox Sports,” Johnson said. “I have an absolute ball with my friends on the set, and the best friends I’ve ever had there with Fox. And I’ll tell you on top of that, I love working for Eric Shanks, our CEO, and our producer Bill Richards, but I’ve made an extremely difficult decision.

“I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I’ve decided to retire from Fox, and I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss all the guys, and I’ll see them occasionally, but it has been a great run starting back 31 years ago.”

Johnson had been a part of the original Fox NFL studio crew in 1994. He was there for two seasons, then later returned to “Fox NFL Sunday” in 2002.

Johnson began his coaching career as an assistant at Louisiana Tech in 1965, ultimately becoming head coach of Oklahoma State in 1979, the University of Miami in in 1984, and the Dallas Cowboys in 1989.

He won the 1989 national championship at Miami, then two Super Bowls with the Cowboys in the early 1990s.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

General

Alabama’s Mark Sears named finalist for national award

Alabama’s Mark Sears is one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the top point guard in college basketball.

Sears, a senior from Muscle Shoals, leads the Crimson Tide in scoring (19.1 points per game) and assists (5.0 per game), ranking second in the SEC in both categories. He is also the NCAA Division I active leader in career points (2,706).

It’s the second straight year Sears has been a finalist for the Cousy Award, named for the former Holy Cross star and Boston Celtics Hall-of-Famer. Connecticut’s Tristan Newton won the award in 2024.

Other finalists this year include Florida’s Walter Clayton, Marquette’s Kam Jones, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler. The only SEC winner of the Cousy Award in its 21-year history is Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis, who took home the honor in 2016.

Sears and No. 7 Alabama (23-6, 12-4 SEC) host No. 5 Florida in their final home game of the season at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

General

What Kalen DeBoer said about Keelon Russell putting on weight

Alabama football now has its new five-star quarterback Keelon Russell in the fold. He arrived in January. And already he has made the most of his time on campus.

The freshman is listed at 6-3, 192 pounds. He had previously been listed at 175 pounds for an increase of 17 pounds.

“I saw him last summer, and I saw him in person for one game last fall,” DeBoer said. “He’s in pads and all that at time, too. He looks good right now. Strong and moves around. He’s just a good all-around athlete. The weight program, certainly for any new guy, is going to be critical. It’s good to get that first phase under your belt. That’s why being an early enrollee is so important. Obviously now and through the spring, the reason, there’s multiple reasons, but one of the reasons why we go every other day and not back-to-back ever is just so we can get big days of lifting in, really, a minimum three times a week.”

Russell will be in competition this spring, and likely into the summer, with Ty Simpson and Austin Mack as for who will be the next Crimson Tide starting quarterback.

Alabama’s spring practices will run through A-Day on Saturday, April 12. The event will not be broadcast anywhere, so fans wanting to watch it must attend in person. UA said admission will be free.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

Brand new Auburn Tigers basketball SEC Champions gear available now

The No.1 ranked Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team took down the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, capturing the SEC regular season championship.

Auburn’s looking to continue their magical season once March Madness rolls around in a few weeks. They still have two games left in the regular season, but fans can grab the new SEC Championship gear now on Fanatics.

Brand new Auburn Tigers SEC Championship t-shirt available on Fanatics

The Auburn Tigers Blue 84 Unisex 2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Regular Season Champions Locker Room T-Shirt – Navy retails at $32.99. It’s available in a full size run as well, ranging from S-3XL.

Auburn fans should know that this is marked as a special event item, meaning it will ship no later than March 18.

General

Fanatics just released brand new Alabama basketball March Madness gear and you can get yours now

February’s over, which means March Madness is about to begin. Before Selection Sunday begins, the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team has two more games remaining before the tournament. A meeting with Florida and a rematch with Auburn to close out the season.

Alabama fans will be excited to know that Fanatics just dropped the first set of Crimson Tide March Madness gear.

Brand new Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball gear available now on Fanatics

There are three options available now:

Fans should be aware that these are market as a special event item, meaning the item(s) will ship no later than March 19, except for the youth option, which will ship within one business day.

General

What will Alabama’s A-Day spring game be like? Kalen DeBoer discusses

The times are certainly changing.

Some college football programs are modifying their spring games. Others are getting rid of them entirely.

What about Alabama football?

Coach Kalen DeBoer told On3 recently that Alabama’s A-Day spring game will be modified. He clarified that comment further Monday, the day of the first spring practice.

“I guess I would consider last year’s spring game, A-Day, probably a modified game,” DeBoer said. “We didn’t split teams up. We talked about the O-line depth, talked about the tight end depth and we’ll see how the spring goes. To me it’s just something where we want to have controlled reps, so lining up and getting something out of the practice. Because I think all 15 practices that we get are really important, getting something out of that. And as we go through the spring, we’ll continue to figure out where we’re at, to see what we want to do when it comes to the day itself. So we want to make it a great celebration for our fan base. We want to put some football out there because we know everyone associated with our program can’t wait for April 12, but we also gotta do what’s right for us. So that’s kind of something as we get closer that I can probably give you more info on.” .

Alabama’s spring practices will run through A-Day on Saturday, April 12. The event will not be broadcast anywhere, so fans wanting to watch it must attend in person. UA said admission will be free.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

NFL Scouting Combine: How the state’s players did at the 2025 event

For the second year in a row, the fastest three-cone drill at the NFL Scouting Combine was run by a player with Alabama football roots.

Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson had the fastest time among the NFL Draft prospects taking the test at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this year. Last year, Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter posted the fastest time in the three-cone drill at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Lassiter was a high school standout at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa. Johnson was a prep standout at Pinson Valley High School and played three seasons at Troy before transferring to Oregon.

Lassiter ran the three-cone drill in 6.62 seconds. Johnson posted a time of 6.65 seconds on Saturday. They slotted in as the third- and fourth-fastest by players from Alabama high schools and colleges in this century at the combine, trailing the 6.48 of Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers in 2005 and 6.60 of Troy safety Sherrod Martin in 2009.

The three-cone drill is designed to gauge a player’s ability to change directions on the run.

Three other prospects broke into the Alabama-roots top 10 with their efforts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

The combine concluded on Monday with the offensive linemen participating in the bench press. Cincinnati guard Luke Kandra did 33 repetitions with the 225-pound weight bar to push Alabama tight end CJ Dippre out of the top spot for this year’s combine. But with 32 reps on Saturday, Dippre tied for the 10th-most by an Alabama high school or college player at the combine in this century.

The 4.33-second 40-yard dash run by Tulane cornerback Caleb Ransaw on Friday tied for the eighth-fastest for a player from an Alabama high school or college at the combine in this century. Ransaw was a prep star at Sparkman High School in Harvest and played three seasons at Troy before transferring to Tulane.

The 132-inch (11 feet) broad jump by Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins on Saturday tied for ninth on the Alabama-roots combine list. Judkins was a prep standout at Pike Road High School.

In addition to having the fastest three-cone drill at this year’s combine, Johnson placed seventh overall in the shuttle run and tied for seventh in the broad jump.

Ransaw tied for the eighth-best vertical jump at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

The best performance for a player with Alabama football roots in each of the six measured drills at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine included:

Bench press: 32 reps by Alabama tight end CJ Dippre

40-yard dash: 4.33 seconds by Tulane cornerback Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman High School, Troy)

Vertical jump: 40 inches by Tulane cornerback Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman High School, Troy)

Broad jump: 11 feet by Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road High School)

Three-cone drill: 6.65 seconds by Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley High School, Troy)

Shuttle run: 4.15 seconds by Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley High School, Troy)

The best performance for any player in each of the six measured drills at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine included:

Bench press: 33 repetitions by Cincinnati guard Luke Kandra

40-yard dash: 4.28 seconds by Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston

Vertical jump: 43 inches by South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori

Broad jump: 11 feet, 6 inches by South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori

Three-cone drill: 6.65 seconds by Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley High School, Troy)

Shuttle run: 4.03 seconds by Nevada safety Kitan Crawford

The best performance for an SEC player in each of the six measured drills at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine included:

Bench press: 32 repetitions by Alabama tight end CJ Dippre and Oklahoma defensive end Ethan Downs

40-yard dash: 4.28 seconds by Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston

Vertical jump: 43 inches by South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori

Broad jump: 11 feet, 6 inches by South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori

Three-cone drill: 6.82 seconds by Florida wide receiver Chimere Dike and Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith

Shuttle run: 4.05 seconds by Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa

A rundown on the players from Alabama high schools and colleges who went to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, with their physical measurements and how they performed in the measured drills (not all players participated in all drills; top 10 overall and top five position finishes are noted):

Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos (Alabama)

Measurements: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, 31.25-inch arm, 9-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.43-second 40-yard dash, 32.5-inch vertical jump, 126-inch broad jump, 13 bench-press reps (tied for fifth among cornerbacks)

Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante

Measurements: 6-foot-0.5, 223 pounds, 30.25-inch arm, 8.25-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.48-second 40-yard dash (second among linebackers), 21 bench-press reps (tied for fourth among linebackers)

Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond (Alabama)

Measurements: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, 30.5-inch arm, 8.5-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.39-second 40-yard dash

Alabama guard Tyler Booker

Measurements: 6-foot-5, 321 pounds, 34.5-inch arm, 11-inch hand.

Measured drills: 5.38-second 40-yard dash, 27-inch vertical jump, 94-inch broad jump, 7.96-second three-cone drill, 4.84-second shuttle run, 21 bench-press reps

Louisville wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks (Alabama)

Measurements: 6-foot-2, 184 pounds, 31.75-inch arm, 9-inch hand.

Measured drills: Brooks did not participate in the measured drills.

Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen)

Measurements: 6-foot-0, 180 pounds, 31.25-inch arm, 9.25-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.53-second 40-yard dash

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell

Measurements: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, 32.5-inch arm, 10.5-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.52-second 40-yard dash (tied for third among linebackers), 127-inch broad jump (second among linebackers)

Alabama tight end CJ Dippre

Measurements: 6-foot-5, 256 pounds, 32-inch arm, 9.625-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.69-second 40-yard dash (third among tight ends), 34.5-inch vertical jump, 120-inch broad jump, 32 bench-press reps (first among tight ends)

Oregon wide receiver Traeshon Holden (Alabama)

Measurements: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, 31.625-inch arm, 9.875-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.57-second 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical jump, 123-inch broad jump

UCF wide receiver Kobe Hudson (Auburn)

Measurements: 6-foot-1, 193 pounds, 30.625-inch arm, 9-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.57-second 40-yard dash, 35-inch vertical jump, 122-inch broad jump

Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter

Measurements: 5-foot-9, 204 pounds, 30-inch arm, 9.5-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.44-second 40-yard dash, 33.5-inch vertical jump, 120-inch broad jump, 21 bench-press reps (second among running backs)

Florida linebacker Shemar James (Faith Academy)

Measurements: 6-foot-1, 222 pounds, 31.5-inch arm, 8.5-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.69-second 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical jump, 117-inch broad jump, 7.09-second three-cone drill (second among linebackers), 4.27-second shuttle run (third among linebackers)

Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley High School, Troy)

Measurements: 5-foot-10, 154 pounds, 29.375-inch arm, 9-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.51-second 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical jump, 131-inch broad jump (tied for seventh overall, fourth among the wide receivers), 6.65-second three-cone drill (first overall, first among the wide receivers), 4.15-second shuttle run (seventh overall, fourth among wide receivers)

Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road High School)

Measurements: 6-foot-0, 221 pounds, 30.25-inch arm, 9.25-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.48-second 40-yard dash, 38.5-inch vertical jump, 132-inch broad jump (tied for fifth overall, first among the running backs)

Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Measurements: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, 32.625-inch arm, 9.125-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.37-second 40-yard dash, 34.5-inch vertical jump, 124-inch broad jump

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (Fairhope High School)

Measurements: 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, 31.625-inch arm, 9.5-inch hand.

Measured drills: Leonard did not participate in the measured drills.

Auburn linebacker Jalen McLeod

Measurements: 6-foot-2, 241 pounds, 32.25-inch arm, 9.75-inch hand.

Measured drills: Did not participate in the measurable drills.

UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB)

Measurements: 5-foot-10, 191 pounds, 29.875-inch arm, 8.375-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 34-inch vertical jump

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe

Measurements: 6-foot-2, 217 pounds, 30.625-inch arm, 9.375-inch hand.

Measured drills: Milroe did not participate in the measured drills.

Alabama safety Malachi Moore (Hewitt-Trussville)

Measurements: 5-foot-11, 196 pounds, 29.625-inch arm, 9-inch hand.

Measured drills: Moore did not participate in the measured drills.

Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts

Measurements: 6-foot-3, 274 pounds, 31.25-inch arm, 9.75-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.91-second 40-yard dash, 34-inch vertical jump, 119-inch broad jump, 7.34-second three-cone drill, 4.45-second shuttle run, 26 bench-press reps (second among tight ends)

Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues (Auburn)

Measurements: 6-foot-2.5, 309 pounds, 32.5-inch arm, 9.375-inch hand.

Measured drills: 5.15-second 40-yard dash, 27.5-inch vertical jump

Tulane safety Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman High School, Troy)

Measurements: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds, 30.75-inch arm, 9.75-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.33-second 40-yard dash (sixth overall, third among cornerbacks), 40-inch vertical jump (tied for eighth overall, first among cornerbacks), 129-inch broad jump (tied for third among cornerbacks), 16 bench-press reps (third among cornerbacks)

Alabama edge Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin High School)

Measurements: 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, 33.5-inch arm, 9.625-inch hand.

Measured drills: Robinson did not participate in the measurable drills.

Alabama defensive tackle Tim Smith

Measurements: 6-foot-4, 302 pounds, 33-inch arm, 10.375-inch hand.

Measured drills: Smith did not participate in the measurable drills.

Memphis wide receiver Roc Taylor (Oxford High School)

Measurements: 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, 32.25-inch arm, 9-inch hand.

Measured drills: 4.49-second 40-yard dash, 30.5-inch vertical jump, 122-inch broad jump

Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson

Measurements: 6-foot-7, 314 pounds, 34.5-inch arm, 10.25-inch hand.

Measured drills: 5.12-second 40-yard dash, 28.5-inch vertical jump, 111-inch broad jump, 7.51-second three-cone drill (third among offensive linemen)

Jacksonville State guard Clay Webb (Oxford)

Measurements: 6-foot-3, 312 pounds, 32-inch arm, 10-inch hand.

Measured drills: 5.11-second 40-yard dash, 31-inch vertical jump, 107-inch broad jump, 4.90-second shuttle run, 29 bench-press reps (tied for sixth overall, tied for fourth among offensive linemen)

Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin, who played at Alabama from 2020 through 2023, is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered on Nov. 19 and could not take part in the on-the-field portion of the combine.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.