Keelon Russell, a 5-star prospect from 2025, has signed with Alabama football. What you should know about Crimson Tide QB

Alabama Football has a quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class.

Keelon Russell, a five-star quarterback from Duncanville, Texas, signed with Alabama on Wednesday, fulfilling a pledge he made on June 4 after leaving SMU.

Welcome to the Rising Tide! 📈🌊@Pres1dential #RollTide pic.twitter.com/fLAE7A9HuU

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 4, 2024

Russell, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound quarterback, is ranked as the No. 2 player and quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports’ aggregate rankings.

Here’s everything you should know about Russell.

Keelon Russell’s recruitment journey led him to Alabama football.

Russell caught Alabama’s attention during his junior season at Duncanville High School, just outside of Dallas, Texas. According to MaxPreps, Russell had 3,267 throwing yards, 35 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He contributed 304 running yards and four rushing touchdowns for the Panthers, who won the state title.

Russell committed to SMU on September 21, 2023, and reported an offer from Alabama on April 24. He allegedly paid an official visit to Tuscaloosa on May 31, following an official visit to SMU.

🐘🐘 https://t.co/6B2jVBfOiM

— Keelon “Dot em” Russell (@Pres1dential) June 4, 2024

Days later, Russell, the then-No. 6 quarterback and No. 38 athlete in the 2025 class, changed his mind and committed to Alabama.

Keelon Russell statistics

Russell’s stats increased much further in 2024.

Russell finished 12 games with 3,652 throwing yards, 52 touchdowns, and two interceptions, with a completion rate of 71.5%. He gained 254 running yards and two touchdowns on 25 touches.

Russell is now a five-star quarterback and the No. 2 signal caller in the class, after Michigan’s Bryce Underwood.

Where does Keelon Russell sit on the Alabama depth chart?

With Jalen Milroe expected to leave Alabama after the 2024 season, the Crimson Tide might face a quarterback war.

Ty Simpson, a former five-star prospect, appears to be the leader for snaps in 2025, while Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack will also compete for opportunities in the spring.

But Russell is the finest QB prospect to commit with Alabama since Bryce Young in 2020. And Young quickly rose to second on the Crimson Tide’s depth chart behind Mac Jones, eventually taking over as starter one season later and winning the Heisman Trophy.

When Russell comes, expect the 2025 five-star to compete for playing time.