An outstanding quarterback commit to Alabama Crimson Tide wins Elite 11 MVP.
Following his MVP showing at the Elite 11, Keelon Russell has the college football world abuzz.
Written by Sonny GiulianoAt 12:19 PM ET on June 23, 2024
Keelon Russell, an Alabama commit, is positioned between head coach Kalen DeBoer and starting quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Since 1999, the Nike World Headquarters is located in Beaverton, Oregon, where a number of the nation’s top high school quarterbacks gather annually to compete in an event known as the Elite 11, which provides these young quarterbacks with a chance to demonstrate their abilities in a range of competitions. Following the competition, an MVP is selected, and these quarterbacks typically go on to have some success both collegiately and occasionally professionally. And the University of Alabama is the only school with more commits who have won the Elite 11 MVP title as of 2024.
The most recent talent to join this list is Keelon Russell, a four-star quarterback who is projected to attend Alabama and is rated as the seventh-best quarterback in the 2025 class by 247Sports. In addition to winning the trophy, Russell—a dual-threat player who started quarterback for Duncanville High School in Texas and compiled a 29-1 record and two state titles—also managed to draw attention in the Pacific Northwest.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic states that Russell “displayed some of the best arm talent at the Elite 11.” He showed excellent off-platform performance and spatial awareness. His leadership and what [QB coach] Roth called an incredible “awareness that really stood out” made an impression on the staff.
Bruce Feldman wasn’t the only one who praised Keelon Russell’s performance. Russell “just has this great feel and leadership and ability to calm everyone down,” according to experienced Elite 11 coach Justin Hoover, while current Elite 11 coach Devin Gardner, a former Michigan Wolverines quarterback, claimed Russell “might have the highest ceiling of anyone here.”
Russell switched to Alabama earlier this month after first committing to SMU. He becomes the fifth Alabama Crimson Tide recruit to win MVP at this esteemed event, following Brodie Croyle (2000), Blake Barnett (2014), Tua Tagovailoa (2016), and Julian Sayin (2023). At the top of the list of Alabama quarterbacks with the most passing yards in school history are both Croyle (ranked fifth) and Tagovailoa (ranked fourth). Keelon Russell is one of the players that everyone in Tuscaloosa, including incoming head coach Kalen DeBoer, will undoubtedly be hoping will one day top this list. Jalen Milroe, the starting quarterback for the Alabama Tide right now, must first build on his productive 2023 campaign and continue to progress in his first year under DeBoer.
During practice at the University of Alabama’s Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility, quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) of Alabama throws ball routes.
© USA TODAY NETWORK/Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
How far can Jalen Milroe and Kalen DeBoer go at Alabama?
The Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe’s rookie season didn’t start off to the best of starts. After a dismal start to the season against Texas, Milroe was benched. He kept his position, though, when backup Tyler Buchner struggled against South Florida on the road. Milroe then continued to show improvement throughout the season, leading the Tide to an incredible victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl and winning MVP of the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs. After placing sixth in the Heisman Trophy vote, Milroe and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck are the co-favorites to win the trophy going into the 2024 campaign.
The hiring of head coach Kalen DeBoer is partly responsible for Milroe’s Heisman ambitions in 2024, in addition to the manner he finished the 2023 campaign. Michael Penix Jr., the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up, spearheaded a potent offense designed by DeBoer and his team at Washington. Compared to the Tide under Nick Saban, the Huskies had a considerably more quarterback-friendly offense and were the 13th-highest scoring team in the nation. It’s anticipated that DeBoer will be able to help Jalen Milroe reach whatever peak he still has left as a college quarterback.
The SEC has grown, and some media sources have Alabama ranked as low as fifth in their preseason conference projections. The competition will be fierce as ever. However, don’t write off Tide’s new appearance just yet. It’s possible that Jalen and Kalen are preparing something fascinating in Tuscaloosa.