5-star freshman QB Keelon Russell is one of the most talked about players on the Alabama football roster. He was the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 recruiting cycle and ended up as the highest-ranked player to ever sign with the Crimson Tide.
Russell is enrolled in Tuscaloosa and is competing with Ty Simpson and Austin Mack for the starting QB job. Russell looks to have added some necessary weight and the short videos that have been released during spring practice so far show a kid with a live arm.
Russell's talent is undeniable. It will come down to how quickly he can pick up Kalen DeBoer's system and adjust to the increased speed of the college game.
Over the weekend, Russell was presented with the Maxwell High School Player of the Year Award in Atlanta. Russell had an otherworldy senior season for Duncanville High School and also was awarded with the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award, becoming the first Alabama player to win it.
In Atlanta, Russell sat down with reporters and offered a few interesting comments. When asked about the WR room, Russell spoke glowingly of the talent he has to throw the ball to. He singled out one WR in particular, however, offering an eye-opening comparison and it probably isn't the receiver you think.
Lotzeir Brooks is like DeVonta Smith all over again, according to Keelon Russell
Who has stood out to @Pres1dential at @AlabamaFTBL spring practice thus far?
— Max Wolborsky (@maxwolborsky) March 17, 2025
A pair of freshmen: WR Lotzier Brooks (@DThrul) + DB Dijon Lee (@Dijon_leeJr)
On Brooks: “Very acrobatic…makes QBs job easier…he’s like a @DeVontaSmith_6 all over again.” pic.twitter.com/yg483T4ZIX
It has typically been Ryan Williams who has gotten the DeVonta Smith comparisons as Williams aspires to do what Smith did in Tuscaloosa. But Russell had high praise for fellow freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who has opened a lot of eyes in his short time on campus already.
During the first week of spring practice, Brooks drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates. Brooks will likely be remembered as one of the most underrated recruits in the 2025 class. 247 ranked him as a 3-star recruit and the 60th-best WR in the class.
Alabama has a deep WR room led by Williams and Germie Bernard. They added Isaiah Horton from Miami in the Transfer Portal, and there's other returning young talent such as Jalen Hale and Rico Scott who are competing for playing time.
It speaks to Brooks' talent that he is pushing all of those guys for playing time and will be difficult to keep off the field by the time fall arrives and the season kicks off.