'I Want to Have My Own Legacy': Keelon Russell Reveals Players He Models Game After

Alabama has its starting quarterback for the 2026 season in sophomore Keelon Russell.

Russell won the job over senior Austin Mack, as the two had been competing against each other since January. It was a quarterback battle for the ages, perhaps the biggest one at Alabama since Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts in 2018, but now it's over.

The college football world got a glimpse of Russell in 2025, as he appeared in two games during blowouts and completed 11 of 15 pass attempts for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Russell's accolade as the 2025 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year made him a fan favorite for this year's QB1 spot.

But now we'll see Russell a lot more often on Saturdays. He's known for his athleticism and rocket-quick release, but who does he model his game after to help create these qualities?

"My favorite quarterback is Lamar Jackson," Russell told BamaCentral before the Rose Bowl. "Everybody relates me to Jayden Daniels."

These are high-quality NFL players for Russell to emulate, as they're both among the best quarterbacks in the league.

Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, four-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner out of Louisville holds multiple NFL records, including most rushing yards by a quarterback (6,522) and single-season rushing yards by a quarterback (1,206 in 2019). But he's far more than just a scrambler, as he holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt (8.3), career passer rating (minimum 1,500 attempts – 102.2) and is tied for the most games with a perfect passer rating (4).

Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels is one of the league's top young stars, as the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU set numerous rookie quarterback records: Most wins in a season (14), rushing yards (891), Most points per game (28.5), highest completion percentage (69 percent), Most Rookie of the Week awards (11) and more. Daniels missed 10 games in 2025 due to an injury, but he's striving to get back to that historic first year.

Russell's also a dual-threat who can use his legs and athleticism on any given snap. Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams described his tandem with Russell at A-Day as if "you're playing a video game when [Russell] is in."

Nevertheless, while he loves these two players, Russell doesn't want to be an exact replica of them.

"I want to become better than any quarterback," Russell said. "I want to have my own legacy, and that starts here.

"But I'm definitely going to inspire my game after Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels. Those two have crazy athleticism. They do what they want on the field, really. And they're great pocket passers. They're great runners. They know how to use their feet and arms."

As previously stated, Jackson and Daniels have both won the Heisman Trophy. Can Russell join his idols?

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