A second Alabama football commit is the Most Valuable Player at the Elite 11 Finals.
Tua Tagovailoa, a former Crimson Tide quarterback, experienced this feeling in the 2016 Elite 11. The native Hawaiian proved Trent Dilfer wrong as he rose from a talent player to a complete quarterback in the event. Tagovailoa enrolled at the University of Alabama for the 2017 season and helped the Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in his first season.
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He became one of the best signal-callers in program history and was selected at No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Keelon Russell, a four-star from Duncanville (Texas) High School, has special written on him. He competed at the Elite 11 and earned MVP honors in the finals. Russell is committed to the Crimson Tide for its 2025 class. Russell totaled 3,483 passing yards with 38 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2023 as a junior. He led Duncanville to a state championship and looks to win another one. Alabama fans reacted via X after seeing its prospect take home the biggest prize from the Elite 11.
The Texas to Tuscaloosa pipeline really like that! #BamaBound 🐘🔥
— Trevion D. Ware 🗞️¹ᴷ (@Tware1k) June 20, 2024
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— The Alabama Nation #GumpCertified 🥋 (@AlabamaNati0n) June 20, 2024
🐘🐘🐘
— Sam 🐘🐬 (@tide19611) June 20, 2024
LANK
— Chef Brian 🦒👑 (@Brian_Eubanks) June 20, 2024
We had a good run 😜 pic.twitter.com/uKadtoafWJ
— 🍓🐘 Crimson Clio (@CrimsonClio) June 20, 2024
5⭐️ him 🐘🐘
— Jacob Cleckler (@Jcleckler1234) June 20, 2024
RMFT
— knigga nature (@blaqueguy_) June 20, 2024
Remember when it was “Bama has resorted to smu recruits”
That sure was fun.
— SCGT (@SCGTRTR) June 20, 2024
5🌟 incoming
— Nate Oatmeal🐘 (@ivapehard) June 20, 2024
Give him his 5th ⭐️
— Classy (@TideClassy) June 20, 2024
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
