Two-team race for 4-star QB Keelon Russell?

2025 Duncanville (Tex.) quarterback Keelon Russell is coming off a monster first start of his junior season. Four touchdown passes and over 300 yards later, the Panthers came away beating South Oak Cliff.

“The deep balls and trusting my wide receivers,” Russell told On3 on what he improved on most this offseason. “Footwork was one of the things I really focused on in the summer and spring. Ever since my first offer, I feel like it’s been building up with my skill level, my courage has been building up ever since. My standards are to be a really big quarterback.”

Classmate and five-star wideout Dakorien Moore caught three touchdowns and nearly 300 yards of receiving.

“That’s the guy right there,” Russell said. “It’s special playing with him, just being able to trust him, go long with him, go short with him. He can get extra yards on top of a hitch route is amazing.”

Going into Year 2 as the starter and coming off a state championship, Russell is more comfortable than ever.

“It’s like coach said, just crazy how last year not being a starter to now you being a starter throwing four touchdowns, three touchdowns by halftime,” he said. “It’s just all trust. Trust the process and me doing everything good.”

Decision approaching for Keelon Russell?

This offseason, the four-star prospect took multiple recruiting visits, including Ole Miss and SMU. Duncanville played inside SMU’s Ford Stadium on Friday and it was good to get back on campus. The two programs are duking it out for him right now.

“The recruiting process is going great. A lot of coaches are hitting me up lately,” Russell said. “I would say this (SMU) is one of the schools and Ole Miss has really been on my top level. Loving it up there at both of those schools.”

SMU’s whole staff approach has worked to garner plenty of interest from Russell.

“The relationship. Man, I just love being on the phone with them,” he said. “They give me the attention to be QB1 at SMU. That means (a lot) to me because I’m still a 2025 quarterback. I got a whole other year to go. For them to build the relationship so early shows how much care and effort they’re trying to bring to me.”

Watching the game Friday was a former Dallas area state champion and quarterback, Kevin Henry-Jennings. Now at SMU, the former South Oak Cliff star has another Dallas area star thinking about the Mustangs.

“Just like Kevin (Henry-Jennings),” he said. “They were having a relationship with him and building it from the start. He came here, able to play, make great plays and everything.”

Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss are heavily involved as well with Russell.

“I love the relationship, but I feel like Ole Miss can really take me to the next level,” he said. “The development they have with Lane Kiffin, coach Gilbert, I can feel myself approaching the next level. Who doesn’t want to play under Lane Kiffin?”

A decision is not far off for the junior, which will lead to more quarterback dominos.

“I would say going into Week 3 or 4, less than a month, most definitely. Not really (any) scheduled dates (for visits) yet, but we’ll be coming most definitely.”

On3 ranks Russell as the 81st overall prospect in the 2025 class as well as the No. 7 quarterback and 17th-ranked recruit in the state of Texas. SMU leads the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

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