Alabama QB Keelon Russell looks like the real deal in win over East Carolina

On the Tide's first series, Russell turned a would-be sack into a 23-yard scramble for a first down on 3rd-and-6. He also showed off his legs midway through the second quarter with Alabama leading 31-7, evading pressure to once gain move the sticks.

Last year, Alabama averaged 104.1 rushing yards per game, which ranked No. 125 in the country, but Russell instantly upgraded the attack. The Tide finished Saturday with 227 rushing yards, their most against FBS competition since November 2024. (h/t Stathead)

Russell's passing was also on point. He found sophomore wide receiver Derek Meadows on a hole shot for a 31-yard gain to set up Alabama's first touchdown.

Russell did a nice job keeping his eyes downfield on a 3rd-and-11 completion in a 10-point game during the opening minutes of the second quarter, finding star receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams open in the middle of the field, and he raced off for 58 yards.

After the game, Russell was just as impressive, taking ownership of the Tide's miscues. He was flagged one time apiece for an illegal forward pass and intentional grounding, and Alabama also received a delay of game penalty early in the first quarter.

"I'm going to blame everything that happened operations-wise on me," Russell told reporters.

Russell showed off his immense upside in leading Alabama to a dominant Week 1 win. That should terrify the rest of the Southeastern Conference. If this is what Russell's capable of in his first start, just imagine what he'll look like when he gets comfortable.