Look: Keelon Russell, uncommitted 2025 quarterback, throws 4 TDs in SMU's stadium

Duncanville (Texas) 4-star said Friday he's eyeing decision in 'less than a month,' has high praise for SMU, Ole Miss after stunning debut

Buck Ringgold, SBLive Sports | Aug 26, 2023

DALLAS, Texas — Nationally ranked Duncanville (Texas) rolled to a momentous season-opening win Friday night thanks in part to a big night from its quarterback.

Keelon Russell, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound uncommitted 2025 four-star, threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns and completed 12 of 19 pass attempts in a 34-14 win over South Oak Cliff in a battle of defending Texas state champions.

Three of those TDs came in the first half as the Panthers built a 26-6 lead.

What a difference a year makes.

>> Texas high school football scoreboard: Week 1 live updates, live streams (Aug. 25-26)

When Russell entered his sophomore season at Duncanville, he had yet to gain any experience as a starter.

However, he proved his mettle when an injury to then-starter Jameir Willis moved Russell to be the Panthers’ QB1. He ended up throwing for 2,377 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading Duncanville to its first state title since 1998.

“Like Coach (Reginald Samples) said, it’s just been crazy how last year, when you’re coming in and not being a starter to now, you’re being a starter throwing four touchdowns and three touchdowns by halftime, it’s just all trust,” Russell said. “Just trust the process.”

And with each start, Russell continues to build confidence.

“Ever since my first (season to start), I feel like it’s been building up,” he said. “My skill level, my courage and my respect has been building up ever since, so I would say my standards have been (raised).”

PLENTY OF GO-TO OFFENSIVE WEAPONS

Russell does have the benefit of having some great talented skill players around him, including LSU commit Caden Durham, who sprinted 68 yards to the end zone on the game’s fourth play, putting Duncanville ahead to stay.

“It makes my job a lot easier, because a lot of people will (concentrate on stopping the) pass first. … They’ll drop (back into coverage) instead of playing the run first, and with Caden in the backfield, all those guys will look like, ‘Oh, Caden’s running,’ so it makes my job a lot easier,” Russell said.

Then there’s Moore, who caught six passes for 274 yards, including TDs covering 79, 71 and 89 yards.

“That’s a man, that’s a deadly weapon,” Russell said. “Go deep, go short, and it’s like he’s just going to make a play happen anytime, anything. Any formation you can put him in, give him the ball, you can put him in the backfield, run a wheel route out of the backfield, he’s going to get the ball and go do something with it.”

But Russell’s favorite TD throw was his shortest one, a 55-yarder to sophomore receiver Ayson Theus with 34 seconds left in the first half. The TD came when Russell sprinted to his right and spotted Theus streaking downfield.

“You know, I love going deep,” Russell said. “But I liked the rollout. … We have fast dudes on this team, we have great players all the way around, so just rolling out and seeing our man open and making a throw on the run like that is like, wow.”

Scroll to the top of the post for full highlights and down for photos.