5-star QB Keelon Russell signs with Alabama Football, talks Heisman Trophy

The prized recruit in Alabama's 2025 football recruiting class is 5-star QB Keelon Russell out of Duncanville, Texas. Russell is ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the country per the 247 composite rankings.

Russell was committed to SMU but flipped to Alabama in June before the start of his senior season of high school. Russell has put together a brilliant final season in high school with over 5000 passing yards and 52 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions at the highest level of Texas high school football.

Russell has had a meteoric rise up the recruiting rankings. He was a 4-star prospect when he committed to Alabama and has since become a 5-star according to all the services. His recruitment should further show that Kalen DeBoer and this staff are good talent evaluators.

Russell won the Elite 11 competition over the summer, which precipitated his rise in the rankings. In an interview with 247 Sports after making his signing official, Russell talked about the award he has his eyes set on next:

Russell has the talent to push for the starting quarterback job right away in Tuscaloosa. It's not controversial to say he will be the most talented QB in the room the moment he sets foot on campus.

Freshman WR Ryan Williams jumped on IG live with Russell during his signing. That alone should show you how high Russell is thought of by the players and coaches at Alabama.

Alabama has four Heisman winners in its history, but only one quarterback. Starting a freshman at QB is always risky, but it worked out well for the 2016 team with Jalen Hurts, and then in 2017 a freshman Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench to lead the Crimson Tide to a come-from-behind win over Georgia in the national championship.