‘Bama QB Keelon Russell honored at ESPYs after winning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors

For the last 40 years, the Coca-Cola-owned beverage superpower, Gatorade, has handed out its prestigious national high school player of the year.

Alabama has signed two prior finalists — Bryce Young and Derrick Henry — but had never gained the commitment of a recipient… Until today.

Five-star all-everything Keelon Russell took home the hardware for the most prestigious HS prize after a senior season that saw the Duncanville (TX) star put up video game stats: 3,652 yards, 52 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He also added 254 yards and two touchdowns through 12 games on the ground, while maintaining a 3.4 GPA and leading Duncanville to the 6A quarters.

For that body of work, he was honored last night on the ESPN ESPY awards

Alabama’s two previous Gatorade NPotY finalists won the Heisman Trophy. And I’m not a betting man (well, actually I am), but that is a very positive trend for the Tide, and a singular honor for Keelon.

Congratulations to him and Roll Tide.