2026 SEC Fall Camp Report: What We Know Right Now
Kevin looks at the camp reports for the SEC.
Fall camp is underway across the SEC, and we’re finally starting to get some real answers after an offseason full of depth-chart projections, breakout picks, and speculation.
This series is going conference by conference, one per day, breaking down what we know right now from fall camp. We’ll hit every team in the Power Four, starting with the SEC, and focus on the information that actually matters for College Fantasy Football, Devy, and dynasty managers.
The goal isn’t to react to every positive quote or camp highlight. August is full of hype. Instead, we’re looking for things that can actually change player values: quarterback battles, first-team reps, running back rotations, emerging target leaders, freshmen pushing for real roles, injuries, and players who are consistently being mentioned by coaches and beat reporters.
For each team, I’ll keep it tight and focus on the biggest storylines coming out of camp so far. Some situations are already starting to become clear. Others are probably going to take another scrimmage or two before we know what we’re dealing with.
Today, we start with the SEC.
Let’s get into it.
SEC
Alabama
The biggest storyline in Tuscaloosa is still the quarterback battle between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, and everything coming out of camp suggests this is a legitimate competition. Mack brings the experience, the size, and the comfort level of someone who has spent his entire college career in Kalen DeBoer’s system. Russell is the more dynamic option and continues to generate some of the loudest praise on the roster. Tight end Marshall Pritchett described Mack as extremely knowledgeable and dependable, while calling Russell “dynamite in a bottle.” That pretty much sums up the battle right now. Mack feels like the steadier option, while Russell offers the type of playmaking ability that can completely change the ceiling of this offense.
DeBoer has also been complimentary of both quarterbacks, saying they have been consistent early in camp while showing command of the offense and creating explosive plays. The big thing he wants to see now is how each quarterback responds when things go wrong. That is where these upcoming scrimmages become important. We already know both can make throws in practice. The separation is probably going to come from who handles pressure better, avoids the disastrous mistakes, and keeps the offense moving after a bad possession. Alabama does not necessarily have to name a starter immediately, but I would expect us to have a much better feel for this battle after the next couple of scrimmages.
The other major focus for Alabama has been fixing a rushing attack that simply was not good enough last season. The Tide averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, and Ryan Grubb has made it pretty clear that getting the run game back on track has been one of the priorities of the offseason. His philosophy sounds simple: stop trying to do everything and get really good at what works. “Don’t get an inch deep and mile wide,” Grubb said. “Do what you’re good at and be great at it.” There has also been a much bigger emphasis on physicality throughout camp. Grubb has talked about the different energy around this group, while sophomore tackle Jackson Lloyd mentioned the sense of urgency surrounding the offensive line and running game. Alabama does not need to suddenly become the best rushing team in the country, but they cannot be anywhere close to what they were a year ago.
For us, the biggest fantasy question might actually be which Alabama running back is worth owning. Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, AK Dear, and EJ Crowell all have a legitimate path to touches, and I think this could be much more of a rotation than many people want to admit. Dear probably carries the most excitement because of his talent and long-term ceiling, but that does not mean Alabama is just going to hand him the backfield. Hill and Riley are going to be involved, and Crowell gives them another talented option. The improved emphasis on the run game makes this backfield more appealing than it was a year ago, but the depth of the room could also make it frustrating for fantasy. Until somebody starts separating in scrimmages, I’m not forcing a clear RB1 here.
That is really the theme with Alabama right now. There is a ton of upside, but we are still waiting for clarity at the two positions that matter most for fantasy. Who wins the quarterback job, and does one running back actually emerge from this rotation? Russell winning the QB job would immediately make this offense more interesting from a ceiling perspective, while a true lead back emerging would give us one of the most valuable developments of SEC camp. Those are the two situations I’m watching closest over the next couple of weeks.
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