WATCH: Alabama commit Keelon Russell crushes Elite 11 camp at LA with great arm strength & splendid throws
Alabama's quarterback commit Keelon Russell left a lasting impression at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles, showcasing his exceptional arm strength and precision.
This dual-threat, four-star talent from Duncanville, Texas, emerged victorious. He claimed the prestigious MVP award amid the nation's top quarterback prospects in the Class of 2025.
The Elite 11 competition, a three-day event featuring premier high school quarterbacks, concluded on Thursday with Russell named the 2024 MVP.
Entering the final day ranked second, Russell's consistent arm talent secured his top spot, making him the first Alabama commit to win the award since Tua Tagovailoa.
Russell's recognition at the Elite 11 places him among esteemed company. Previous MVPs include NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud and 2024’s No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams.
A four-star prospect, Russell is currently ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2025 class by the 247Sports composite.
Ohio State commit Tavien St. Clair also made a significant impact during the competition. The five-star prospect showcased his skills by winning Wednesday night's accuracy challenge, highlighting why he is ranked No. 3 among 2025 quarterbacks, per 247Sports composite rankings.
USC commit Julian Lewis displayed his striking performance, winning the Pro Day championship as a result of 14 of 18 complete throws with three touchdowns in 7-on-7 drills.
Another five-star talent, Lewis had two specific entries as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 9 overall player in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports Composite.
SMU flip Keelon Russell’s commitment in Alabama's first QB pledge under DeBoer
Keelon Russell's commitment to Alabama marked the first high school quarterback pledge under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Previously committed to SMU, Russell’s flip follows a challenging 2024 cycle for Alabama, during which they lost five-star Julian Sayin to Ohio State.
According to ESPN rankings, Russell is now the third-highest-ranked member of Alabama's 2025 class.
Russell, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 185 pounds, initially committed to SMU on September 21, 2023. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan led the recruitment, presenting a clear plan and maintaining consistent communication with Russell.
By April though, Alabama officially offered him a spot as ESPN's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback.
"They laid out the spot for me on the depth chart - it's something a quarterback dreams of," Russell told ESPN. "I felt like if I took the role, I could do some amazing things at high levels."
Keelon Russell emphasized the consistent communication from Alabama, stating:
"I've been in touch with them almost every day since they began recruiting me. If not every day, then every week."
Alabama’s current class of quarterbacks features Jalen Milroe as the returning starter, Ty Simpson as a sophomore, and redshirt freshmen Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack. The fall of 2026 is coming and there is no quarterback committed to that class yet.
"I think I knew that [Alabama] could do some crazy stuff for me," Russell said. "I'm going to get there and ball out for sure."
In high school, Russell amassed 3,483 passing yards and 38 touchdowns last season. His performance at the Elite 11 Finals solidifies his status as a top-tier talent headed to Alabama.