Ryan Grubb is excited about the direction of Alabama football’s quarterback room.
With Ty Simpson off to the NFL draft, the Crimson Tide is bringing back both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, who are set to battle it out for starting reps ahead of the 2026 season.
While at the Alabama Football Coaches Association convention, Grubb praised both Mack and Russell and what they could be for Alabama next year.
“You know, our quarterback room in general, I think a lot of people were waiting to see what we would do in the portal,” Grubb told WAKA-TV. “With Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, we got exactly who we need. They’re two of the best quarterbacks in the country.”
Asked directly about Russell, Grubb said the redshirt freshman has “incredible vision, mindset and just his intelligence on the field is special.”
I sure hope you’re right, Grubb.
I thought Mack did some ok things in that disaster against Indiana, but the lack of touch on his throws, particular the short stuff, is worrying. Meanwhile, Keelon Russell is an all-everything recruit, but we’ve yet to see him with any meaningful snaps.
Alabama also pulled in an extra transfer portal addition over the weekend:
Appalachian State transfer running back Khalifa Keith has committed to Alabama, On3’s Hayes Fawcett has learned. He began his college career at Tennessee.
Keith appeared in six games during his lone season at Appalachian State, rushing for eight yards on three carries. He spent two years at Tennessee, where he ran for 100 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore across four games in 2024.
All told, during his time at Tennessee, Keith had 124 rush yards and the touchdown. By preserving a redshirt as a sophomore, he will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Khalifa Keith played high school football at Birmingham (Ala.) Parker, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 547 overall player from the 2023 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. Keith visited Alabama on Saturday as the Crimson Tide also hosted their Junior Day.
He’s a big guy, at least, at 6’1” 235. Keith hasn’t really played too much yet at Tennessee or App State, so don’t expect much from him at Bama either. But he should be a good piece to round out the back end of the depth chart in case of injuries. Or maybe Grubb is looking at him for playing fullback – that could be fun.
Wide receiver Monshun Sales is a top 2027 prospect, rated a five-star athlete, the No. 2 wide receiver nationwide, the top in Indiana, and the eighth overall. At Lawrence North High, he had 37 receptions for 794 yards, nine touchdowns, and 56 tackles in his junior year.
When you look at scholarship offers from Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Indiana, it’s pretty apparent why schools all around the country are hooked. But this recruitment feels personal for Sales. Though he now plays in Indiana, he’s originally from Alabama, and that made his recent January 31 visit to Tuscaloosa hit differently.
“The visit was amazing,” Sales said. “Definitely felt different being back home as a top recruit. This is everything I dreamed of when I was playing little league ball back in Ensley [Alabama]. The biggest takeaways were how they’re focusing on developing the wide receivers and making sure it’s a priority to get the playmakers the ball.”
A five star receiver choosing between offers from Bama, Michigan, OSU, Notre Dame… and Indiana. What a wild world we’re in. Anyway, if there’s one thing that Kalen DeBoer can absolutely recruit, it’s star wide receivers. Hopefully Sales comes back home to Alabama.
Beginning with Bart Starr and Steve Wright in the first two Super Bowls and extending to Jalen Hurts and a group of Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, Alabama alumni have consistently appeared on the league’s biggest stage.
The Crimson Tide officially claims 54 Super Bowl champions, the most of any college football program. With seven players across the Seahawks and the Patriots’ current rosters, that number will rise no matter which team wins Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.
Both the Seahawks at Patriots have multiple Alabama players on their squads, so either way, the Tide will extend their lead for all time Super Bowl winners. Roll Tide!
