Alabama signee Keelon Russell wins National Player of the Year honor
Keelon Russell, five-star plus+ quarterback from Duncanville High School in Texas (No. 2 HS football team nationally), had quite the seven days. He signed with Alabama on December 4, secured a quarterfinal win in the state playoffs, and was named the National High School Football Gatorade Player of the Year on Wednesday morning.
The other finalists include Auburn signee Alvin Henderson (Elba, Ala.), and ’26 five-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell (Nix, Mo.). Henderson set the AHSAA record for most rushing yards all-time/season and most touchdowns. Cantwell is an early target for the Crimson Tide, and he attended the home win against Missouri earlier this season.
The award recognizes the best player, on-and-off the field. Factors in the selection of the finalists/winner includes: athletic excellence, academic achievement and individual character.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
The No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class, per the On3 Industry Tram Rankings, has seen his stock soar throughout the year. The steady rise was prior to the flip from SMU to Alabama on June 4, but he excelled to another level after named the MVP of the Elite 11.
“Keelon Russell has had a sensational senior season that should have Alabama fans extremely excited about his future in Tuscaloosa,’ On3 Rankings Director Charles Power told BOL. “He’s been incredibly precise and the game has noticeably slowed down for him this year. Watching the film of Duncanville’s games, it looks as though a JUGS machine is throwing passes. Russell has continued to add arm strength and his pocket presence has gone from good to elite this season.
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“I’ve been so impressed with how he consistently steps up and navigates space when pressure is in his face. Russell has taken on an expanded role in Duncanville’s offense and is really the main force behind this powerhouse team. They have a bunch of big games remaining and I’m excited to see how he plays down the stretch. Given his trajectory and improvement, I’d expect him to continue to play at a very high level.”
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Duncanville is 13-0 and will play in the Texas UIL 6A Division I semi-finals finals vs. North Crowley on Saturday afternoon. Russell has 3,874 yards passing (69.6-percent completion %) with 53 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Russell has also rushed for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
Russell flipped his commitment to Alabama from SMU on June 4. He’s now the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
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