The fall camp in Tuscaloosa has turned into a quarterback laboratory, where Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are repeatedly running the same sets of drills, each repetition aimed at forging the trust the coaching staff demands before a starter can be named.
Coach Ryan Grubb, the offensive coordinator, has repeatedly emphasized that earning the first‑string role hinges on attention to detail, a standard that will be tested when the team opens its fall scrimmages, the point at which the final decision is expected to crystallize.
The path to the starting spot
While Ty Simpson, who held the starting role in 2025, will not return to the fold, the competition has opened space for other veterans such as seventh‑year linebacker Jah‑Marien Latham, who earned high praise from coach Christian Robinson for his willingness to re‑engage after a year away, and sophomore wide receiver Derek Meadows, whose physicality has become a talking point in the receiving corps.
In the trenches, offensive linemen are working in paired tandems, with projected left‑side starters Jackson Lloyd and William Sanders sharing reps, while transfer Ty Haywood and true freshman Bryson Cooley have joined the drills, adding depth to a unit still searching for cohesion.
Meanwhile, Nick Sherman stands out as the only non‑quarterback wearing a non‑contact jersey, while J'Alan Terry, TC Washington and Adam Watford are limited to stationary bike work, and safeties Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb have taken the lead in positional repetitions, underscoring the breadth of work across the roster.