Every college sports fan knows that recruiting is the lifeblood of any athletic program. Whether its on the diamond, the hardwood, or the gridiron, having the best collection of talent possible generally leads to team success.

For Kalen DeBoer in his first year as the head football coach at the University of Alabama, his first impression on recruits appears to be a good one. Currently the Crimson Tide rank No. 8 overall in the On3 Team Rankings and with several top prospects still considering Alabama, a top five finish is within reach for Coach DeBoer.

One specific player to keep an eye on is current SMU commit and 4-star quarterback Keelon Russell from Ducanville, Texas. Russell is fresh off an official visit with Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide and appear to be running neck and neck with the home-state Mustangs.

The 6-foot-3 signal caller is one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the 2025 class and is nationally considered a top 80 overall player in his class. In fact, when you watch Rusell play, he will remind you of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

Now, I am not predicting a Heisman for Russell in the future but the similarities are there. They each have the same build at this stage in their careers and you could argue that Russell is a more polished passer as a high school prospect that Daniels was. Daniels obviously holds the edge when it comes to being a runner from the QB position.

With Coach DeBoer's recent history with Michael Pennix at Washington, Russell has to like the potential development he could receive in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is also loaded with some of the most talented skill position players in the country which makes a quarterbacks life that much easier.

As things stand now, I would be surprised if Russell was not apart of Coach DeBoer's first full recruiting class in Tuscaloosa.