Keelon Russell is a five-star quarterback recruit who is committed to play football for the University of Alabama.
DALLAS — Duncanville quarterback Keelon Russell has been named one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
Russell, a five-star recruit and No. 2 ranked player in the 2025 class according to 247 Sports, is committed to play his collegiate football for the University of Alabama.
The other finalists for the national award alongside Russell are Alvin Henderson, a running back from Alabama who is committed to play at Auburn, and Jackson Cantwell, a junior left tackle from Missouri who is the No. 1 ranked recruit in the 2026 class.
The past two winners of the Gatorade National Player of the Year award have been quarterbacks from Texas: DJ Lagway (2023) and Jackson Arnold (2022). The next Texas high school QB to have won the award was Kyler Murray back in 2014. Other Texas winners include Johnathan Gray (2011) and Garrett Gilbert (2008).
Russell lit up the scoreboard in WFAA’s most-watched Friday Night Football broadcast of the year when his Duncanville Panthers took on the DeSoto Eagles. Russell finished the game 27-for-36 (75%) for 427 yards and six touchdowns en route to a 42-20 win.
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