4-star QB Keelon Russell feels pull to be hometown hero at SMU

2025 Duncanville (Tex.) quarterback Keelon Russell is a household name on the recruiting front these days. The SMU commit earned a spot in the Elite 11 Finals and that recognition is just the latest accolade he’s received.

“It means a lot. Just going back to all the previous quarterbacks who was winning it, who were defending it,” Russell told On3. “All of those dudes are literally talked about in the NFL, going pro, being on a Hall of Fame level. So just starting off going to the Elite 11, it just makes for an opening statement for me going into next year. It’s a wonderful feeling because as of two, almost one-and-a-half years ago, I started from nothing.

“Now just being at the top of the rankings, being at the top of my class, being the No. 1 in Texas, it proves a point to a lot of people that I am that guy and I’m the person who will lead Duncanville to a third championship ring and make history up up under Kyle Murray’s name.”

What’s he shown this offseason? That he can do it all now that he’s physically developed and he’s got his second season as Duncanville’s starter behind him.

“I felt that I’m definitely a dual-threat quarterback, rolling out of the pocket, making beautiful throws, making those spins, making those throws accurate,” Russell said. “Just putting the ball on the money, where it’s supposed to be at. It was a lot of good competition out there, seeing a lot of people, seeing a lot of those quarterbacks being on my same caliber as a quarterback. Seeing those dudes be able to throw the ball with so much spin to it, so much accuracy as well, but I think I showed everybody who I was really and why I should be chosen to go to the finals.”

With track, camps, visits, workouts and more on his plate, Russell’s still able to find a way to keep going through it all. It’s all so he can achieve his ultimate goals of being one of the best to spin the rock.

“It’s very hard. I talked to my mom and some of the cousins the other day, and they all said, ‘How are you doing this right now? Why is your body not collapsing on the floor right now?’ I just feel like it’s my work ethic,” he said. “I’ll also say, it’s the feeling that I know there’s people out there who want to be better than me, who wants to grind harder than me, who wants to shine more than me. I feel like that’s what makes me keep pushing, and that’s what makes my journey so special, because I know I’m going to be the top of the rankings. If not top of the rankings, I’m going to be a Heisman Trophy winner. If not, I’m still going to the NFL. It’s just so much stuff that I’ve got to prove. It’s just mental focus and how you want to keep grinding to be the No. 1 guy.”

SMU still prioritizing Russell as a centerpiece

SMU’s held a commitment from the two-time state champion since September. The move to the ACC came shortly before that pledge and with a national schedule of Florida State, BYU, TCU and others, it’s an exciting opportunity.

The goal for Russell is to play against the best of the best. He could see himself and the 2025 class becoming the next round of SMU legends.

“It’s very big, and that’s also one of the things that made me commit. When Coach Brewer told me one day, he was like, ‘Hey man, we’re going to the ACC,’ My eyes kind of opened up a lot more towards SMU. The biggest thing about me is I’m a competitive dude. I want to play against the best of the best. Every quarterback has a mistake. Even Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, don’t go have a 20-for-20 game. If they did, that’s great for them, but I want to play best of the best. That’s what really pulled me to SMU. A lot of people saying, ‘Oh man, you’re not going to get no recognition at SMU.’ Now that we’re in this league, it brings starlight to SMU’s program.

“Just playing up under that spotlight, being QB1 for them, it means a lot. Just hoping this journey, like next year, and the year after that 2025 group, we can seal the legacy at this school, make something really happen. Like Rashee Rice, Eric Dickerson, we can make a legacy at the school for sure.”

New SMU quarterbacks coach D’Eriq King went from player in head coach Rhett Lashlee’s system to a position coach. King’s building a relationship with him quickly and Russell trusts their plan for him..

“I was sitting in the QB room with them and they were just telling me how I can become the starter of the program my freshman year,” he said. “How I can that dude my freshman year. It means a lot. Just seeing how King was developed by Coach Lashlee, just seeing where he was at in his previous years of being a college football player and at the pro level, I really trust them. I know they can get me to the next level and that’s exactly what I want.”

SMU holds commitments from Javion Holiday and Tyren Polley, two defensive backs from Duncanville. On top of his teammates being committed to the Mustangs, he can see his family and friends continuing to support him on the Hilltop.

“It means a lot. I remember one day, it was somebody random, he obviously got my phone number,” Russell recalled. “But he showed me a lot of people that I had that was like supporting me. He showed me like every supporter that I had. It made a mark on me because you’re gonna have these people that ride or die for you no matter what. These are people that you really call home. Just having that feeling, just playing with the mindset of, ‘Oh, I’m gonna go home, still have a great day after a loss because I got people that’s gonna ride or die for me that’s not gonna ever give up on me. Even to a bad game, we lose to FSU, we lose to them, I’ll still have people supporting me. It means a lot for sure.

“Just being the face of Dallas right now already, I already got those standards high. I already got people calling me the next dude. It’s amazing for me. Just seeing how my career flip from high school to college, having the same mindset, having the same people following me, it’s amazing for sure.”

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More visits ahead for Keelon Russell

Ahead of his senior season, he wants his decision finalized. In-state programs like Texas and Texas A&M are making things interesting as they’re set to host him for visits in April. Alabama, Baylor, Houston, Ole Miss, Oregon, SMU and Florida will likely host him in the coming months. For official visits, he’s got SMU May 17, Ole Miss April 27 and Florida June 7.

He’s set to visit Texas A&M April 6 for an unofficial and Texas April 20 for their spring game. What does he need to see at SMU when he gets out there next for either a practice or his official visit?

“It’s a hard question because I’ve already seen a lot of stuff at SMU. I’ve sat in film rooms, I sat in rooms with all the players, I’ve seen the attitudes, the characters, I’ve seen the practices, I’ve seen everything. The one thing I really didn’t get to see was a gameday situation with these guys. I know I was at one of the games last year, but I’m talking about like in-person, how does it sound in the locker rooms, how does it sound in the film rooms, how does it sound in everything.

“When I get down there (for my official visit), I just want to see what it is behind football, like just the after life about football. Just in case something might go bad. Knock on wood, but something might go bad in my life and I got to change my whole lifestyle around. Just seeing those things, but I’ve already seeing a lot of things for SMU, and that’s why I’m committed to them today, because they caught my eye very, very, very soon. Not looking for a lot, but looking for those empty spots still.”

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Russell ranks as the No. 111 overall prospect and No. 11 quarterback in the country.