Recruiting target Keelon Russell won't visit Florida Football after Alabama commit

The pursuit of a quarterback for the class of 2025 hasn’t had the same veracity for Florida football as it did for the classes of 2024 and 2026. The Gators have been looking at a handful of prospects, but with the presence of DJ Lagway on the team, the odds of landing a top-tier quarterback for 2025 have always felt low.

One of the QBs the Gators were supposed to host this weekend for an official visit won’t be coming to Gainesville as he is now an Alabama commit.

Florida Football: No Dot

Keelon Russell is a consensus top 100 prospect across all four services, with ESPN grading him as the number one ranked QB for the class of 2025

When we profiled Russell last month, we said:

"Nicknamed "Dot Em" it is easy on film to see why Russell is considered one of the top QBs in the 2025 cycle. He almost always hits his receivers in stride, had very little panic in the pocket, and is able to make throws from all sorts of angles. Even when pressure is in his face, Russell finds a way to escape and find someone down the field.

And unlike a couple of other 2025 QBs the Gators have been looking at, Russell can run too. He racked up 304 yards rushing and has real speed once in the open. His fastest certified time during the 2024 track season is a 50.29 in the open 400, though his X profile claims a 47-second split within the 4 x 4, which, given what he shows on the football field, is believable."

Russell had been an SMU commitment since September, but virtually everyone assumed he would flip. The Gators had an official visit lined up for Russell this weekend, but he will not be taking that visit. He announced yesterday he will be committing to Alabama and both On3 and Swamp247 confirmed Russell will not be taking his visit this weekend.

For Florida and its pursuit of a 2025 QB, this probably means they’re gonna ramp up their efforts on Antwaan Hill. He was on campus this past weekend for an official visit, and it appears the Gators are battling with Memphis, among others, for his services.