Keelon Russell, a five-star recruit and Alabama QB commit, won the 2024-25 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award. Dallas Cowboys cornerback and Alabama football alum Trevon Diggs surprised Russell with the honor.

Alabama Crimson Tide commit and Duncanville HS quarterback Keelon Russell is one of the best high school players in the country, and he just got recognition for it. The Maxwell Football Club named him the National High School Player of the Year.

Russell, a Duncanville, TX native led Duncanville to a 13-1 record, only dropping the 6A D1 state semifinals in a 36-34 loss to North Crowley. In 2024, he completed 238 of 343 passes for 4,177 yards and 55 touchdowns to only five interceptions with another 321 yards and three rushing scores. This caps off Russell’s highly productive high school career, with two state championships, over 7,400 passing yards, and 90 touchdowns.

All four major recruiting services have Russell as a five-star recruit and a top-two quarterback in the class of 2025. The 247 Sports Composite has him as the second-best player in the country and top player from Texas, trailing only Michigan commit Bryce Underwood. Alabama secured his commitment on June 4th 2024 – a flip from SMU, where Russell initially committed to on September 21st, 2023. The 6’4″ 181-pound dual-threat quarterback also had offers from schools including Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Florida.

Two Alabama players have previously won the award, National Champions and Heisman Winners Bryce Young & Derrick Henry. Other award winners include Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, and Georgia’s Mykel Williams. Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith and Clemson LB Sammy Brown won the award last year, which has been distributed since 2007.