While plenty of talented recruits have joined college football in recent years, there are two quarterbacks, Bryce Underwood (Michigan Wolverines) and Keelon Russell (Alabama Crimson Tide), who are rated above the rest.
Bryce Underwood and Keelon Russell are Elite
According to On3, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (99.87) and Alabama’s Keelon Russell (99.62) are the two highest-rated recruits over the last five recruiting cycles.
They are both rated higher than former Ohio State and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and current Texas QB Arch Manning.
Highest-rated recruits across the last five recruiting cycles⭐️
Read: https://t.co/swvZaV5rCW pic.twitter.com/ICPEgY1ydT
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) February 21, 2025
In terms of overall players, they were also rated higher than the likes of All-American Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Colorado Heisman Trophy winner and current first-round NFL Draft prospect Travis Hunter.
Simply put, Underwood and Russell appear to have incredibly high ceilings, considering the situations they are entering as freshmen and their elite skill sets.
What they did in high school certainly has made way for a possibly legendary career for both at the college level.
High School Track Records
Starting with Underwood, the highest-rated college recruit over the last five years, the Michigan native put on a show at Belleville High School. The No. 1 high school player in all of America started 48 games in high school and recorded a whopping 165 total touchdowns.
What is scary for opposing Big Ten teams is that he is super young for his age and won’t turn 20 until his third year of college ball.
The 6’3″, 215-pound signal-caller also has the ability to use his legs, which is something Wolverine quarterbacks have been lacking over the years.
When it comes to Keelon Russell, the Duncanville High School star is the top recruit coming out of the state of Texas. During his senior year, he completed a whopping 70.8% of his passes en route to leading his team to a 13-1 record.
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He threw for over 4,100 yards and 55 touchdowns that same year, which is proof that he has the ability to be an electric player.
The Crimson Tide have themselves a talented player under center for the foreseeable future, as do the Wolverines.
Time will tell to see which storied program can make greater strides with their respective young quarterbacks at the helm.
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