Tag: Keelon Russell

Oregon Ducks offer 4-star SMU QB commit Keelon Russell

The Ducks extended an interesting offer to 4-star QB Keelon Russell on Wednesday.

Oregon Ducks running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples might see his connection to Duncanville start to pay dividends soon.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Ducks extended a scholarship offer to 4-star QB Keelon Russell, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 recruiting class. Russell, a player at Duncanville High School in Texas, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 63 overall player and No. 7 QB in the 2025 class.

Samples, who the Ducks hired to replace Carlos Locklyn last month, is the son of legendary Texas coach Reginald Samples, who is the head coach at Duncanville HS. This school is known as a hotbed for high school talent and is currently home to 5-star WR Dakorien Moore, the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class who Oregon has been after in this cycle.

Russell is currently verbally committed to the SMU Mustangs, but it’s apparent that Oregon wants him, despite already having a commitment from 4-star QB Akili Smith Jr, an Oregon legacy player. Smith is rated by 247Sports as the No. 100 player in the 2025 class, and the No. 9 QB.

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Top-rated quarterback in 2025 class books an official visit to UF

A top-rated quarterback from Duncansville, Texas has booked an official visit with the Florida Gators this summer.

Florida football is well into its spring practices and has welcomed some of the top recruits in the nation to observe how the program operates.

Now there’s another name being added to the future guest list, but it’s booked for the middle of the summer.

Four-star quarterback [autotag]Keelon Russell[/autotag] recently spoke with Swamp247 and announced that he will be heading to Gainesville for an official visit during the weekend of June 7.

A talented athlete like Russell would usually join the fray while the Gators prepare for the Orange and Blue game, but Russell has prior obligations with his high school’s track team.

The Ducansville, Texas, native has already had conversations with Florida head coach Billy Napier back in February during an Under Armour football camp session.

“(Napier) said my game is related to Lamar Jackson’s and how my offensive skills would be perfect here and fit here at Florida,” Russell said. “He was telling me how they didn’t have any quarterbacks committed in the 2025 class, so he was saying how they would love for me to come do the job.

“He also said I can build any type of dream that I have here. Then he offered me. It was a wow moment having a dream school offering me. I never thought, so it was a dream come true. I was excited, but at the same time there’s some trust going on there.”

It’s no secret that the young recruit has always had a preexisting love for the University of Florida, even confirming with Swamp247 that UF is one of his preferred choices.

“They jumped all the way up my board,” Russell said. “They can be top three or top two. I can see them being a school I am interested in highly. They are up on the top of my board now. Florida is a dream school, so having Florida is real congratulating to me. It’s going to be up on the top of my board for sure.”

Keelon Russell is a four-star quarterback who is, according to 247Sports, ranked as the No. 63 prospect while being regarded as the 7th-best QB in the nation.

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Four-star 2025 QB prospect leaves first Swamp visit with offer

Florida hosted four-star quarterback Keelon Russell on campus for the first time over the weekend and impressed the SMU commit.

The Florida Gators hosted SMU quarterback commit Keelon Russell on Saturday, and he left town with an offer in hand and a lot to think about, according to Swamp247’s Blake Alderman.

“I enjoyed my time,” Russell said. “… They gave me a big lift and sparked a spot to where I think this could be a place that heavily recruits me.”

Despite his commitment, it is clear that Russell is leaving the door open for any team that wants to make a strong push for him. The Gators appear to be a potential suitor with Billy Napier presenting Russell with an offer at the end of the visit.

Russell called it a “wow moment” for him and a “dream come true” before admitting that Florida jumped into his top two or three at the moment.

While he didn’t give a date, Russell expects to return to Gainesville soon. Spring camp is the next opportunity for recruits to stop by the Swamp.

Rusell has earned a fourth star everywhere besides 247Sports in the 2025 recruiting cycle. He is No. 247 overall on the On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major services.

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