Keelon Russell named Alabama football starter. Here's a look at his prep career

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One of Kalen DeBoer's biggest wins on the recruiting trail as Alabama's football coach is paying off today.

Two Saturdays before the Crimson Tide begin its 2026 college football season, DeBoer and his staff named former five-star recruit Keelon Russell as the starting quarterback over Austin Mack.

Russell, the 2024 National Gatorade Player of the Year, flipped his commitment from SMU to Alabama on June 4, 2024, making him the first five-star quarterback DeBoer landed. He takes over for 2022 five-star recruit Ty Simpson as the next Alabama starter.

Here's what you need to know about Russell's high school career:

Where did Keelon Russell go to high school?

Russell attended Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He took over as the starter as a sophomore, leading the program to a 15-0 record and a Texas 6A D-1 state championship. Russell threw for 2,377 yards with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also adding 203 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

In his junior year in 2023, Russell led Duncanville to a second straight Texas 6A D-1 state title and a 14-1 overall record. He threw for 3,483 yards, 38 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also added 361 yards and six touchdowns as a rusher.

Russell was named the 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior after throwing for 4,177 yards with 55 touchdowns and four interceptions, while also adding 321 rushing yards and three scores. Duncanville finished 13-1 and lost in the semifinals of the Texas 6A D-1 playoffs.

Keelon Russell recruiting ranking

Russell was a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Only Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood was ranked higher than Russell in that cycle.

When it comes to all-time recruits, no one has a higher score than Russell for Alabama signees. In fact, his 0.9997 score according to 247Sports edged out QB Bryce Young (2020) and OT Andre Smith (2006) for the highest recruit for the program ever.

Inside offensive lineman Michael Carroll and cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. were fellow five-star recruits in that class for Alabama, which ranked No. 3 overall in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Keelon Russell named Alabama football starter. Here's a look at his prep career

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