Two schools pose biggest threat to flip SMU 4-star QB commit Keelon Russell

The recruitment of Duncanville (Texas) four-star quarterback Keelon Russell continues to heat up as he begins a crucial phase of his process.

The 6-foot-2.5, 185-pounder committed to in-state SMU in September and has remained pledged to the Mustangs despite picking up some major interest from a plethora of SEC schools. Now the No. 78 overall prospect and No. 8 QB in the 2025 cycle, word got out about the signal-caller since he came off the board last fall.

“The secret got out about Keelon Russell after the 2022 season when he led Duncanville to that state championship — the first of back-to-back. SMU saw him that season as many people did, ended up offering him later on in 2023 and were really honing in on him over the course of the spring,” SMU insider Billy Embody said on ‘The Inside Scoop’. “Ultimately, as they moved into the ACC they were able to get him on board.”

Russell has made it clear since his pledge to SMU that Rhett Lashlee and Co. still hold a high place in his recruitment , but he’s open to seeing what else is out there. Opportunities to do just that are coming hot and heavy.

Alabama, Texas posing the biggest threat to SMU

Russell took his first official visit last weekend to Ole Miss, a program that has long been in the running. Up next is his OV with SMU in May, but he’s also now locked in a May 31 official with Alabama, the latest school to emerge in the race.

Florida and Texas are also making it known that Russell is a priority as SMU looks to cling on to his commitment. According to Embody, the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns are the two to really keep an eye on entering May.

“There’s two schools that I’m keeping the most attention on right now and that’s now Alabama with their offer — Keelon’s been pretty adamant that he would like to at some point really look at playing on a massive stage. When I think about the program’s that have been involved in this recruitment, really Alabama and now Texas, with their College Football Playoff appearance,” Embody said. “But we are watching Texas’ quarterback situation, so they might not end up pressing for Keelon Russell. But that Alabama offer is a big one. It’s an eye-catcher for him.

He’s fresh off that Ole Miss official visit that went well. They’ve been recruiting him for a while. SMU beat out Ole Miss in the fall when they took his commitment. Then Florida, they’ll have to weather that official visit later on as well.”

Will NIL play a role in Russell’s decision?

It’s easy to overlook SMU in the battle for Russell, despite the Mustangs currently owning his commitment. The big fish are lurking and that often spells trouble, even for SMU with its transition to the Power Four.

The recruiting process continues to evolve, and now NIL can have a big piece of the pie when it comes to the decision-making process. How SMU operates when it comes to that space could keep Russell at home, or it could lead him elsewhere when the time comes to put pen to paper this winter.

“Rhett Lashlee is really taking a big role in this recruitment, along with new QBs coach D’Eriq King,” Embody said. “Another big key in this recruitment for SMU that they haven’t really done much of over the course of this NIL era is how will NIL play a factor from SMU’s angle? That’s something that I think is a card they are going to play at some point over the course of this recruitment as it gets down to that time where Keelon is going to make a final decision. SMU is feeling pretty good about where they stand.”

Official visits could also tell the tale. The Mustangs will have a chance to make another splash this month, but Russell will also likely make his trips to the big SEC campuses, too. It won’t be easy to hold on for SMU, but Embody still likes its chances as of now.

“At this point, I’m leaning towards sticking. It’ll be honestly Alabama, Texas, those will be the two schools I really watch closely to see what they do,” Embody said. “They’ve done a nice job getting him on campus, showing him he’s a priority and they haven’t even played that NIL card, either.”

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