Keelon Russell recaps return visit to Bama: ‘I’m ready to build this thing’

This past weekend, Keelon Russell returned to Tuscaloosa for the first time since he flipped his commitment from SMU to Alabama.

Arriving Saturday night and leaving Monday morning, Russell was able to attend the Tide’s Champions Cook-Out event. Accompanied by his parents on the visit, the five-star quarterback prioritized building upon current relationships during his time in T-Town.

Following his return to Alabama, Russell continues to feel strong about his pledge.

“I’m feeling real good about them,” Russell told BamaOnLine . “No emotions have changed about them. They’re really great. I’m ready to build this thing.”

During the visit, Russell’s mother tweeted out a photo of her son and Bama quarterback Jalen Milroe . Russell hails from Duncanville, Texas, while Milroe played for Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas.

The two Lone Star State products enjoyed their time with one another on Sunday.

“He was really just saying how we’re the same coming from Texas to Bama,” Russell said of his conversation with Milroe. “He was saying that coming in, there’s going to be a spot to get. They’re not going to just toss it to you. That’s really what the conversation was.

“It was real good,” Russell continued. “With him being the starting quarterback, it gave me knowledge. He gave me the rundown on how things are supposed to go personality-wise and leadership-wise.”

Russell and his family were also around future position coach and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan throughout Sunday’s event. Sheridan is Russell’s go-to point of contact on the staff, and they’ve connected well even before Alabama offered on April 24.

“It was really just playing vibes and fun vibes,” Russell said of his time with Sheridan. “The whole trip wasn’t serious. It was just getting away from football. We were more connective. Like I said, we were building relationships on and off the field. We were just getting that atmosphere of how it’s going to be when we come up there.”

“[Our relationship is] real good,” Russell added. “We’re real tight. We’re real strong.”

The trip wouldn’t have been complete without Russell hearing from his future head coach as well.

“Coach DeBoer was everywhere, but the main thing he was saying is that he can’t wait for me to come up there,” Russell said. “He said, ‘I see your leadership and everything to bring us to greatness.'”

Keelon Russell details time with commits, high-profile targets

Keelon Russell also made it a point to chop it up with a handful of recruits at the cook-out.

He got to meet several Class of 2026 targets, including Brandon Arrington and Cederian Morgan . Russell says he met up with fellow incoming seniors Caleb Cunningham , Dijon Lee , and prized running back target Akylin Dear .

“I was like, ‘Bro, you’ve got to be here,'” Russell said of his message to Dear. “I’m not going to say it too many times, but like I say every time, this is a place for legendary talent… it’s just like if you want to come be the best, come play with the best. Simple as that.”

Russell’s mom also posted a photo of Cunningham and Russell together on the visit . Russell, the No. 5 quarterback in the country, talked about the pairing of him and Cunningham (No. 2 wide receiver) at the next level.

“It’s going to be real fun,” Russell said. “Like the tweets and everyone said, it’s going to be the dynamic duo of the century. And it’s not even just Caleb. We still have dudes rolling in. Trying to get Kaliq [Lockett ] over there. Trying our best. It’s going to be fun. Everything about that is going to be amazing.”

Over the previous two days, Alabama has lost a couple of 2025 commitments in Antonio Coleman and Derick Smith , both of whom flipped to Auburn.

Russell is aware of the departures, but expressed excitement for the current group of commitments nonetheless.

“We’ve got the No. 2 class. We’ve got our four-stars, five-stars, our three-stars… we’ve got the dudes that want to come and play, obviously,” Russell said. “We’re not really worried about the decommits, we’re not worried about things like that… we’re going to be great with the people we’ve got. Whoever wants to be legendary will have to be legendary, for sure.”

At this time, Russell is not quite sure when he will be able to return to Alabama for a game day. His bye week falls during the week of the Tide’s road game at Vanderbilt, so nothing has been planned just yet.

Russell reaffirmed his intentions of both signing and enrolling early this December.

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