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Keelon Russell, Alabama QB commit, named Gatorade National Player of the Year
By Crissy Froyd
Published:
Keelon Russell was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year on Wednesday, and will be taking his talents to the Alabama Crimson Tide next.
Russell, a quarterback from Duncanville, Texas, put up a monster season with video-game like numbers you almost have to read twice to believe. He finished out the season passing for some 3,652 yards with 52 touchdowns while completing over 71% of his passing attempts. He was careful with the football and rarely ever put it in harm’s way, throwing just 2 interceptions.
That performance helped power his way to beating out several prestigious players for the award, including Auburn commitment Alvin Henderson and 5-star 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell. He was presented the award by none other than a former Alabama member of the Crimson Tide himself, Trevon Diggs. Diggs also has had a heralded career with the Dallas Cowboys.
“You see the production this fall is on another level,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said of Russell in his Wednesday press conference.
“Then there’s the leadership piece and the personality just there’s a swagger about him, a confidence about him…it’s what you want out of any leader especially these key guys, especially your quarterback.”
With the potential for a void to be left in a large way by the potential departure of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, filling the position with players like Russell is essential for Alabama.
Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.
