Alabama lands 4-star QB Keelon Russell, former SMU commit

Alabama and new coach Kalen DeBoer persuaded four-star quarterback Keelon Russell to flip his commitment from SMU to the Crimson Tide on Tuesday.

Russell, a Texas native, is ranked No. 38 overall in the Class of 2025 and No. 6 among quarterbacks by the 247Sports composite. He marks the first high school quarterback to commit to Alabama since DeBoer was hired to replace retired legend Nick Saban.

Russell told ESPN that the Alabama coaching staff presented him with a clear plan for his college path in Tuscaloosa.

"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 that I could do some amazing things at high levels."

Alabama enters 2024 with Jalen Milroe occupying the No. 1 spot on the QB depth chart.

The roster also includes rising sophomore Ty Simpson and a pair of redshirt freshmen, Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack. Alabama lost 2024 quarterback commit Julian Sayin when he flipped to Ohio State over the winter.

--Field Level Media