Kalen DeBoer talks Austin Mack status with Alabama football

MOBILE, Ala. — Austin Mack has not remained silent.

Days after Alabama football ended its spring schedule with A-Day, and after Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb gave a definitive status update for Alabama’s quarterback battle, putting Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell behind Ty Simpson, Mack posted a gallery of photos on his Instagram with the caption “All in on me… Keep going 10.”

Mack’s Alabama teammates flooded the redshirt sophomore’s comments with praise and support, including Russell, safety Keon Sabb, wide receiver Rico Scott and cornerback Zabien Brown.

Before speaking at the annual fundraising banquet for Team Focus, a Mobile-based community and outreach program, Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer was asked specifically about Mack, who followed him from Washington to Alabama and has three pass attempts in two collegiate seasons.

DeBoer’s plan for Mack is the same plan he has for Simpson and Russell: to “keep pushing” and “keep pressing,” something the Alabama coach said he knows Mack can live up to.

“Austin will be exactly that,” DeBoer said. “He knows that. He’s going to do that until the last day he steps on the football field. That’s just who he is. One of the hardest workers on the football team. I don’t ever have to question if that’s going to happen. He’s got extreme arm talent. He, along with those other guys in that room, I know, are going to have a great, competitive and healthy summer of working together, but also competing for that spot.

Mack is the only Alabama quarterback currently with a collegiate touchdown pass.

Mack struggled mightily at points in the Crimson Tide’s A-Day scrimmage, showing inconsistencies that culminated in multiple interceptions secured by Brown and linebacker Abduall Sanders Jr.

In his post A-Day press conference Monday, DeBoer said Mack is one of two quarterbacks who “knows the system well” along with Simpson.

Grubb said Mack has made “huge strides” throughout spring practice.

“He came out and developed just with some of the nuances and taking care of the football, and things like that,” Grubb said. “Ty showed out a bit better.”

Alabama will open the 2025 season at Florida State on Aug. 30.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.