Fans react as Keelon Russell goes off early vs. Mississippi State
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Fans on social media have a tendency to get ahead of themselves with a particular sports topic, but not on Saturday when it came to Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell.
The redshirt freshman was putting on an absolute show with his right arm and his 2 legs during the first half against a Mississippi State team that was playing at home and was unbeaten coming into Week 5.
But the 7th-ranked Crimson Tide, who were also 4-0 coming in, had Russell and the 16th-ranked Bulldogs didn’t, and at least in the first half that was the major difference as Bama shot out to a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter behind the exploits of Russell.
All Russell had done to that point? How about going 3 for 6 for 60 yards and a touchdown pass without an interception. He hooked up with star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams on a 15-yard TD pass early in the game to set the tone and put the Tide up 7-0.
He was just getting started though. After Mississippi State pulled within 14-7 late in the first quarter, Russell showed off his legs this time, scoring on a 17-yard run just into the second quarter to restore Alabama’s 2-touchdown lead at 21-7. Russell was winning the battle between star counterpart Kamario Taylor, and because of that Bama was winning the SEC battle on the scoreboard, at least so far.
Here is just a sampling of the love that Russell was getting on social media:
With Alabama taking the lead in the first half in Starkville, Mississippi State was behind the 8-ball at home. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the Bulldogs’ chances to rally past the Crimson Tide by game’s end:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
