‘He’s Super Special,’ ‘New-Age College Quarterback’ — Bryce Young, Kirby Smart Hail Keelon Russell Before Alabama Hosts Georgia

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell is drawing high praise ahead of Saturday’s SEC showdown with Georgia Bulldogs, with former Alabama coach Nick Saban and current Georgia head coach Kirby Smart both singling him out as a defining player of the modern college quarterback position. Russell, a sophomore, has thrived under Kalen DeBoer’s system, posting a Pro Football Network Impact grade of 92.2—third-best among FBS quarterbacks—while leading Alabama to a 56-23 rout of Mississippi State last week.

His performance included 16-of-22 passing for 285 yards, three touchdowns, and a 17-yard rushing score, showcasing his dual-threat versatility that Saban compared to Bryce Young’s playstyle during his Heisman-winning tenure at Alabama. Young, now with the Carolina Panthers, echoed those sentiments on ESPN’s College GameDay, calling Russell ‘super special’ and selecting Alabama over Georgia in a pregame prediction battle that saw Saban and Desmond Howard join him in backing the Crimson Tide.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, ranked sixth nationally with an 89.8 PFN Impact grade, faces a defensive unit that leads the SEC in forced turnovers while Stockton aims to break Carson Beck’s school record for completion percentage. Smart acknowledged Russell’s unique skill set, labeling him ‘the new-age college quarterback’ and emphasizing Georgia’s need to adapt to Alabama’s dynamic offense.

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