Alabama commit Keelon Russell wins Elite 11 Finals MVP

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — Alabama commit Keelon Russell has been crowned Elite 11 Finals MVP.

After a stellar performance across the three-day event, the four-star prospect from Duncanville (Texas) was the top performer among the 20 participants at Mira Costa High School, shining brightest in the 7-on-7 portion of the competition Thursday with five touchdowns. Russell also impressed in the initial workout Tuesday night and had a strong showing in the VICIS pro-day workout.

Russell flipped to the Crimson Tide from SMU earlier this month. He led Duncanville to a 14-1 record and its second-straight Texas 6A D-1 state title in 2023, completing 72 percent of his passes for 3,483 yards with 38 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Alabama also had the MVP last summer when then-commit Julian Sayin took home the honors. He transferred to Ohio State following the departure of coach Nick Saban. Tua Tagovailoa is another prominent Alabama product who was a former Elite 11 Finals MVP.

The most prestigious quarterback showcase in the circuit every summer, the Elite 11 Finals offer a glimpse into the next wave of stars. Out of the 32 NFL starters last season, 27 participated in either the finals or a regional event. Sixteen of the previous 17 Heisman Trophy winners competed in either the Elite 11 Finals or a regional, highlighted most recently by Bryce Young (2021), Caleb Williams (2022) and Jayden Daniels (2023).