Keelon Russell was one of the most coveted prospects in the 2025 college football recruiting class. The former five-star held over 20 offers before finally deciding to commit to the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he will begin his freshman season in August.
Russell’s talent and on-field performance may seem like they come easily to the young quarterback. However, that’s not the case as he recently revealed how studying Tom Brady has helped shape his pursuit of greatness.
Alabama Freshman QB Keelon Russell Draws Inspiration from Tom Brady’s Legendary Rise
Alabama freshman Keelon Russell may seem like the furthest thing from NFL legend and future Hall-of-Famer Tom Brady. Brady was a pocket passer with next to no mobility and an average arm, while Russell had a cannon on his right shoulder and is a freak athlete who can make things happen out of structure.
However, Brady’s physical limitations made him spend more time in the film room than any other player in the league, which gave him a mental advantage week in and week out.
In an interview with Men’s Health, Russell explained that while he doesn’t have those same physical limitations, he’s striving to learn from Brady to have that same mental advantage.
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“We all know [Tom Brady] was a sixth-round pick, didn’t nobody believe in him,” Russell told Men’s Health. “Now he’s one of the greatest of all time. It gives me that drive, it touches my heart. A coach told me Tom would study film all night, sleep in the film room. That’s one of the things that I take away from him.”
For a young quarterback like Russell, his early commitment to studying the game will pay off in the long run, especially as he takes the field for one of the most storied programs in college football, in the sport’s toughest conference.
Men’s Health featured Russell on their latest cover, where the magazine introduced their top 25 athletes who graduated from high school in 2025. The young signal-caller came in at second on the list.
For Russell to already be featured on a magazine cover shows the kind of hype he has as a young athlete. Russell was the second-best player in 247Sports’ 2025 recruiting class, and the Duncanville, Texas, native is expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country for the next three seasons.
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He will begin his freshman season at Alabama this fall and is currently in a tight quarterback battle with redshirt junior Ty Simpson. Russell will look to make his mark on the Crimson Tide as soon as possible, and it’s clear he has the work ethic to be great once he takes the field.
