"We going in here to take care of business": 5-star Alabama QB commit sends message to Ryan Williams after signing with the Crimson Tide

Duncanville (Texas) quarterback Keelon Russell, a five-star plus recruit, pledged his future to Alabama on Wednesday during the early signing period. Originally committed to SMU, Russell made a high-profile switch to the Crimson Tide following an impressive summer.

Standing 6-foot-3.5 and weighing 182 pounds, Russell is ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2025 class by On3 Industry Ranking. The Elite 11 MVP honoree is also regarded as the No. 2 overall recruit and the top player in Texas, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

During his Instagram Live session with Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Russell expressed his ambitions for his future with the Tide.

“The plan is to get in there and win a national championship,” Russell said to Williams. “We are going in here to take care of business. … We are going to do something crazy next year.”

Russell’s commitment strengthens Alabama’s already formidable roster.

His breakout performance during his senior year further solidified his elite status. In 11 games for Duncanville High School, he completed over 70% of his passes, racking up 3,180 passing yards and 46 touchdowns while throwing just one interception.

His efforts have positioned Duncanville as the frontrunner for the Texas Class 6A-I championship.

Alabama lands elite QB Keelon Russell in game-changing recruitment

Keelon Russell's decision marks a significant win for coach Kalen DeBoer, who considers Russell the cornerstone of his recruiting class. Reflecting on the journey to secure Russell, DeBoer spoke highly of the quarterback during his first public remarks on Wednesday.

“It’s really cool when you think about the recruiting process with him,” DeBoer told AL.com. “I continue to think of it as, there’s eyes that we have and feelings that we have when you watch the film that are one thing and jump out at you. But I think there are other details we saw on the film that, when we saw him in person, were verified.”

Alabama’s coaching staff visited Russell during the spring, and DeBoer recalled being thoroughly impressed.

“It’s like, wow, this guy is what we think,” DeBoer said. “And these little nuances we think are special, definitely are.”

As Russell’s standout summer and exceptional fall unfolded, he quickly earned widespread recognition.

“Then there’s the leadership piece,” DeBoer said. “And the personality. There’s a swagger about him. There’s a confidence about him.”

Russell has led Duncanville to an undefeated season in 2024, positioning the team for a potential third consecutive state championship.