Austin Mack is returning to Alabama for 2026

[davefrat]

Less competition in HS recruiting now. Now they let us sign them, work with them for a year or two, and then swoop in and give them a big deal to transfer when they're ready to contribute.

It'll be a couple years to figure it all of this out but could turn out that emphasis on HS recruiting will end up killing your program. Too many resources consumed recruiting and coaching players just to see them take their talents elsewhere. Those teams that find the right balance will do well and finding the right balance each year will be a total crap shoot.

Everthing that made college football great is rapidly coming to an end.

As someone else mentioned, in the NFL you don’t build through the draft.

You build the team in free agency and supplement your roster every year with a handful of draft picks.

Seems that’s what the future is for CFB.

And if you think about it, IF you could build an NFL roster with only drafted players even if they were all first rounders they probably wouldn’t be as good as a team full of veteran players, regardless where those veterans were initially drafted.

The portal is the future of roster building, like it or not.

Master the portal or get left behind.

As for all the “college football is dead to me” talk, I suspect that if Bama was dominating the portal and dominating on the field there’d be a lot fewer people crowing about CFB being dead to them regardless of how the portal might be ravaging other teams.

 

[BamaMoon]

The upside is that he’s been in CKD system for three years. The downside is that he hasn’t seen the field much in those three years. Question is how much will Keelon develop between now and the end of August?

I'm a little surprised. There was talk he might portal to Mich. St. with Reece.

But, this is probably a good thing for the QB room and especially for Russell.

They'll get all the snaps next spring.

I expect Russell to win the battle simply because he has so much upside.

FWIW, Someone I trust told me we will likely know who the starter is coming out of Spring practice.

I hope that is correct so whoever wins the battle can get all the snaps with the 1st team in the fall.

 

[CB4]

I'm a little surprised. There was talk he might portal to Mich. St. with Reece.

But, this is probably a good thing for the QB room and especially for Russell.

They'll get all the snaps next spring.

I expect Russell to win the battle simply because he has so much upside.

FWIW, Someone I trust told me we will likely know who the starter is coming out of Spring practice.

I hope that is correct so whoever wins the battle can get all the snaps with the 1st team in the fall.

You mean Nick Sheridan? Tommy Rees is currently the OC for the Cleveland Browns.

 

[BamaMoon]

You mean Nick Sheridan? Tommy Rees is currently the OC for the Cleveland Browns.

Yes, sorry. Thanks!

 

[SkullDuckery]

I do not know because I have not seen much of Keelon playing. I hear he is quite talented. I expect (and hope for) a fierce competituion between them in spring and especially next summer.

Just from the brief glimpses we have gotten…he’s special.

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

This offseason will be interesting. Definitely did not foresee Mack staying with us. But who knows? Maybe he is legit, he deserves his chance.

 

[mlh]

I look forward to seeing what both of these guys can do. I keep hearing about KR's "upside" but that means nothing until it's reached. I also think AM has a high "upside" and he has maturity and 3 years in CKD's system to his advantage.

I think the deciding factor will be whoever shows the most leadership and builds confidence with the team. From a talent perspective, I think both are capable of running the offense.

 

[GrayTide]

Yeah, Oline that can actually block would be great.

If we don't improve dramatically in the OL it won't make any difference who wins the QB battle.

 

[uaintn]

I am glad he is coming back. He clearly has a strong arm. Other than that, there is not a lot to go on. I wish him well.

And yes, it won’t matter who is at qb (or rb) if we do not see significant improvement in coaching, talent, and performance from tackle to tackle.

 

[bamaga]

As someone else mentioned, in the NFL you don’t build through the draft.

You build the team in free agency and supplement your roster every year with a handful of draft picks.

Seems that’s what the future is for CFB.

And if you think about it, IF you could build an NFL roster with only drafted players even if they were all first rounders they probably wouldn’t be as good as a team full of veteran players, regardless where those veterans were initially drafted.

The portal is the future of roster building, like it or not.

Master the portal or get left behind.

As for all the “college football is dead to me” talk, I suspect that if Bama was dominating the portal and dominating on the field there’d be a lot fewer people crowing about CFB being dead to them regardless of how the portal might be ravaging other teams.

You must not watch NFL football, nor the originator of that comment . You do build through the draft, and supplement with free agency. If you build through free agency, you will be over the cap and only have half a team. The best programs in the NFL built their roster this way. Philly, San Fran, KC.

And CFB is dying to long time fans. Has nothing to do with winning /losing. In the NFL you have basically the same players year to year . They are under contract. You know the players that will be leaving/not signed. In CFB, you can’t cheer for a player , they may leave after the year. Thats the difference, that’s what is turning people off. That, and the teams with the most money will reign supreme in CFB, sooner rather than later.

Yes, there is excitement for CFB this year with new teams winning, but that will wane as the same teams win every year because they have the most money. Thats why the NFL is so popular, the talent is even, hire the right people, and you can win tomorrow. Just ask NE, Chicago and Jacksonville

 

[tidefan39817]

“Re-signs?” College football is such a joke these days. I notice they don’t bother even mentioning player’s majors or GPAs anymore. I hate everything about it.

When was the last time a guy had to sit out the bowl game because of his grades?

 

[gtgilbert]

As someone else mentioned, in the NFL you don’t build through the draft.

You build the team in free agency and supplement your roster every year with a handful of draft picks.

Seems that’s what the future is for CFB.

And if you think about it, IF you could build an NFL roster with only drafted players even if they were all first rounders they probably wouldn’t be as good as a team full of veteran players, regardless where those veterans were initially drafted.

The portal is the future of roster building, like it or not.

Master the portal or get left behind.

As for all the “college football is dead to me” talk, I suspect that if Bama was dominating the portal and dominating on the field there’d be a lot fewer people crowing about CFB being dead to them regardless of how the portal might be ravaging other teams.

for me at least, even if we were dominating, this version of the sport is losing my interest. I've loved watching guys sign on with the program, some flash right away as stars, but then other who more gradually develop over the course of a 2-3 seasons, maybe playing a lot of ST as freshmen, then getting real reps in packages as a soph before busting out later. I just love seeing the results of dedication and putting the time in. That's where sports is kind of a metaphor for life, as it seems like that is slipping away.

 

[UKTideFan1961]

I expect Keelon to pass him. Good for him for sticking it out and competing

Bet on it.

 

[UKTideFan1961]

“Re-signs?” College football is such a joke these days. I notice they don’t bother even mentioning player’s majors or GPAs anymore. I hate everything about it.

I am from Kentucky originally and am a big UK fan, particularly basketball. Under Cal you learned to assume every player was going to leave until they decided to stay. That is where were are with university affiliated professional sports (UAPS) these days.

 

[CoolBreeze]

We are about to see how good Coach really is. Gonna be an interesting Spring trying to find starters all over the field. The media is still trying to write our eulogy but I think they are going to be quite unhappy for some time to come.

Kalen DeBoer and Alabama totally disrespected by On3's way-too-early CFB Top 25

Despite winning 11 games, one of which was in the College Football Playoff, there doesn't seem to be much optimism surrounding Alabama going into Kalen DeBoer's

bamahammer.com

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

We are about to see how good Coach really is. Gonna be an interesting Spring trying to find starters all over the field. The media is still trying to write our eulogy but I think they are going to be quite unhappy for some time to come.

Kalen DeBoer and Alabama totally disrespected by On3's way-too-early CFB Top 25

Despite winning 11 games, one of which was in the College Football Playoff, there doesn't seem to be much optimism surrounding Alabama going into Kalen DeBoer's

bamahammer.com

They have been signing Bama's epitaph for many years.............but Bama aint quite dead yet

 

[mlh]

I still cringe when I see the word "Naysayers."

 

[AlexanderFan]

I still cringe when I see the word "Naysayers."

I don’t cringe, I typically just keep the ball when I should’ve handed it off.

 

[editder]

I don’t cringe, I typically just keep the ball when I should’ve handed it off.

With a few pick sixes mixed in for good measure.

 

[BamaInBham]

Just from the brief glimpses we have gotten…he’s special.

And listen to an interview and his calm, common sense and tremendous poise are very evident. As to being special, the first TD throw vs ULM to his right was as breathtaking, in a different way, as Tua’s whirling 360 throw to DeVonta vs Vanderbilt in 2017. His throw to the WO WR was nice too.