Alabama zeroing in on SMU 4-star QB commit Keelon Russell as top flip target

Duncanville (Texas) four-star quarterback Keelon Russell is as coveted of a quarterback prospect as there is in the country heading into the summer.

Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida and Texas are just some of the schools who have been in contact with Russell in recent months. Russell took his first official visit earlier this month to Ole Miss, a program that has long been in the running. The Mustangs got him back on campus last weekend as well, and next weekend he will be back at Alabama.

The Crimson Tide have made him a top priority since Kalen DeBoer and his staff took over. And according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Alabama is very much a threat to SMU.

“He just had a great official visit to SMU, a longtime commit to the Mustangs. He was one of 24 official visitors for Rhett Lashlee and Co. this past weekend. It reminded him why he loves SMU, why he’s committed to that program. But the door is still open for some other schools,” Wiltfong said Thursday during On3’s Inside Scoop recruiting show. ” … When talking to some coaches that have been in Texas, recruiting that high school — not really in the picture for Keelon Russell — they said to keep an eye on Alabama. And he’s got that official visit coming up.”

While the Tide have recruited the likes of Julian Lewis, Deuce Knight and others, they appear to be zeroing in on Russell.

“He is Alabama’s guy right now in the 2025 class at the position,” Wiltfong added. “There was a time where I think they would’ve taken Julian Lewis if circumstances were right for the five-star USC commit. But Alabama has locked in on Keelon Russell; he is QB1 on their board. And it sounds like there’s some mutual feelings going into this official visit. They love what this staff did with Michael Penix and Co. Nick Sheridan is leading the charge for Alabama on the trail there.”

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Russell is the No. 75 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 8 quarterback and No. 14 recruit in Texas.

In addition to the official visits he’s already taken to Ole Miss and SMU — as well as his trip to Alabama — Russell will visit Florida June 7.