STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor entered Saturday as the SEC's top Heisman Trophy candidate through four games. But Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell catapulted past him as the sophomore outdueled Taylor, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions during the Crimson Tide's 56-23 win over the Bulldogs on the road in Davis Wade Stadium.
After the game, Alabama center Racin Delgatty struck a Heisman pose in honor of Russell's play. Russell downplayed the opportunity ahead of him.
"Just playing my game," he said. "Not really worried about the Heisman right now. Accolades and stuff will come. Just playing my game week in and week out ... just processing myself of what am I going to do to make myself better each and every week."
Russell was 16-of-22 passing for 285 yards. He also scored on a rushing touchdown.
A hobbled Taylor, meanwhile, committed three turnovers -- two interceptions and a fumble.
His play was reminiscent of Russell earlier in the month when he had three first-half turnovers on the road at Kentucky -- his first road start. He rebounded in the second half as Alabama came from behind to win the game. Russell's second start on the road ended with him having the third best odds to win the Heisman, according to DraftKings.
"I just think he's learned from everything that's happened," said UA coach Kalen DeBoer. "It wasn't just about that road game, it's about all the things he's had through the first four leading in today. He's not this overly emotional guy, but just feed into it. And our guys love when he commands things. That happens in practice now. He's not afraid to tell guys where to go, what they need to do if they're not up to the standard of how we're operating in practice. And that happens in games too.
"And he just trusts himself. I think he's got a good vibe with the skill group throwing on time. I think that's a big part of what you're seeing now, especially since game one. But continue to take care of the football, making good decisions to run/pass, understanding how to convert and move the chains, knowing when the ball needs to get in the end zone."
Russell said they were prepared for a difficult environment in Starkville with thousands of fans ringing their cowbells.
"But we overcame it today and we did good," he added.
Two of Russell's touchdown passes went to Rico Scott. The other went to Ryan Coleman-Williams.
Alabama ran for 179 yards on 37 carries.
"It went amazing," Russell said of the game. "We played dominant all four quarters. Still got a lot of stuff to pick up on. We're going to only keep progressing as a team. Just want to thank the guys for coming out here balling today. Really proud of those guys and how they showed up today."
Russell said he's been developing as a quarterback through five games.
"A lot of people will say, he's a great athlete or he's a great player," he explained. "And just becoming more of a quarterback is what I kind of want to [do]. Just growing there. So I most definitely would say [improving] operationally as a quarterback, just seeing the field as a quarterback and just understanding that the game is just going to progress as it goes."
Russell found Taylor after the game and spoke.
The two quarterbacks were part of the same recruiting class and got to know one another at recruiting showcases through the years.
"Me and Kamari are great buds," Russell said. "He's an amazing athlete. Guy is a phenomenal player. He has a mindset of nobody that I literally have never met. He's always on the grind. Got some few words with him. Told him he's going to be a heck of a ball player. Had a bad injury, whatever, I guess. I don't know what happened, but yeah, just told him that he's just going to be great."