'Sky's the limit' for Bama's Russell after debut win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Keelon Russell accounted for 335 yards and a touchdown, and No. 13 Alabama opened the season with a 48-10 victory over East Carolina on Saturday. Russell, a sophomore making his first career start after beating out Austin Mack during training camp, ran for 86 yards and a score. He also threw for 249 yards, including 130 of those to Ryan Coleman-Williams. Coleman-Williams dropped two passes in the second quarter, but Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer says his big bounce-back is indicative of the trust they have in the newly named team captain. "Yeah, he went out there, made some contested catches too," DeBoer said. "You know we're gonna keep feeding him. He's a relentless worker, and he's gonna keep getting the ball." Russell also showed why Alabama entrusted him with the offense. His ability to escape pressure and create plays with his legs was apparent from the opening drive when he broke free from pressure for a 23-yard run. "I think he's just a tough guy to defend," DeBoer said. "I thought he took advantage of his ability." Russell directed five consecutive scoring drives to start the game, and Alabama (1-0) finished with 480 yards and 27 first downs. His 335 total yards were the the most by an Alabama quarterback making his first career start since Bryce Young had 343 against Miami in 2021, according to ESPN Research. "He's a tough guy to defend," Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. "I thought he took advantage of his ability. It allowed us to open up the playbook." The Crimson Tide, who ranked 15th in the SEC in rushing last season, totaled 227 yards on the ground. East Carolina (0-1) managed just 162 yards and five first downs. The Pirates were 0-for-9 on third down and gained 2 yards on 22 carries. Mitch Griffis completed 10 of 16 passes for 137 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Russell made a few mistakes, including a fumble in the third quarter. But he ended up with more positives than negatives, including connecting with Coleman-Williams for a 58-yard gain. "I'm very hopeful we can be a complete offense," DeBoer said. "It starts with your quarterback. We've always been quarterback-driven by what we can do. I think the sky's the limit for him." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.