With the college football season ending, it’s time to start learning more about the sport’s future stars.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell is a name to know, as he was the No. 1 overall player and signal-caller in the 2025 recruiting class, according to Rivals. The five star is already being given huge expectations, especially with the publication’s recent comparison for the QB.
Who Is Keelon Russell?
Russell is a five-star QB commit for the Crimson Tide. He played his high school football at Duncanville High School, which is just outside Dallas, Texas. Across all recruiting sites, he ranks as the No. 1 or No. 2 QB and a top-five player in the country.
Russell is a dual-threat who had 23 offers on the table before deciding to join the Crimson Tide.
He solidified himself as one of the top high school passers in the nation during his senior season, throwing for 4,177 yards, 55 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. On the ground, Russell had an additional 321 yards and three scores.
Russell has all the makings of a star and should be instantly competing for the starting Alabama QB job the moment he steps on campus.
Russell Draws Lofty Comparison to Jayden Daniels
On their X page, Rivals posted that their player comparison for Russell is former Heisman winner and current Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.
While the comparison only raises expectations for Russell, it’s pretty accurate. Like Daniels, Russell has a beautiful deep ball and throws with accuracy and touch. He also can create outside of the pocket, like Daniels, and make plays with his legs.
KEEP READING: Five-Star OT Ty Haywood Decommits — What’s Next For Alabama Recruiting?
The two QBs are very similar, and if Russell lives up to the hype, he may have a Heisman Trophy in his future, as well. The ‘Bama commit is going to bring a passing attack to head coach Kalen DeBoer’s offense that will remind people of the 2023 Washington Huskies.
DeBoer loves to push the ball downfield in his offense and throw outside the numbers rather than over the middle. While Russell demonstrated the ability to do both in high school, his live arm and downfield accuracy will make him a perfect fit in DeBoer’s offense.
While Alabama had a down season in the first year of the DeBoer dynasty, it stands to reason that with Russell in DeBoer’s offense, the Tide can return to the College Football Playoff and potentially win a national championship.
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