Alabama flips elite Class of 2025 quarterback Keelon Russell from SMU
A high-profile commitment was made by Alabama football on Tuesday when four-star quarterback Keelon Russell announced that he has switched from SMU to the Crimson Tide. The summer months are a crucial period for college recruitment.
The Duncanville, Texas, 6-foot-3, 180-pound recruit had committed to the Mustangs in September. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is ranked No. 6 among quarterbacks in the Class of 2025 and No. 38 overall. In Alabama’s 2025 class, he is the highest-rated recruit and the eleventh pledge.
BREAKING: Four-Star QB Keelon Russell has Flipped his Commitment from SMU to Alabama, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 185 QB from Duncanville, TX had been Committed to the Mustangs since September
“Heisman Trophy = Roll Tide🐘🐘”https://t.co/yKiqmAnP3x pic.twitter.com/Gi6xvyCUMy
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 4, 2024
Russell made his formal visit to Alabama last weekend, and now he has committed. Russell was the top choice for offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and coach Kalen DeBoer, who have been with the staff since January. No other quarterback was offered in the 2025 cycle. Russell had originally planned to travel to Florida on June 7 and Oregon on June 21, but Alabama finalized the agreement before those dates.
As the starting quarterback, Russell has guided Duncanville High School to a 29-1 record, which includes consecutive 6A state titles. He completed 189 of 262 passes for 3,483 yards and 38 touchdowns with just three interceptions during the previous season. Six touchdowns and 361 rushing yards were added by him. Throughout his career, he has completed 69.5 percent of his attempts, passed for almost 6,000 yards, and scored 69 touchdowns overall.
Having an outstanding quarterback is a major plus for DeBoer’s first recruiting class as a whole. It is evident that prospects have responded favorably to his work with Michael Penix Jr. at Washington when he moved to Alabama.
Jalen Milroe is expected to test the NFL after the 2024 season, leaving Ty Simpson, Dylan Lonergan, Austin Mack and Russell as the potential quarterbacks on Alabama’s roster looking ahead to 2025.
In the 2025 cycle, Russell is the sixth recruit ranked in the top 150 to pledge to Alabama. Although the Southeast has been targeted for recruitment, this class also has commitments from six other states: Alabama, California, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, and now Texas with Russell. The class is ranked eighth nationwide.
(Photo of Kalen DeBoer: Gary Cosby Jr. / Tuscaloosa News / USA Today)