Alabama QB Keelon Russell Comes Clean on NIL

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Feb 10, 2025 2:24 PM ET

With Jalen Milroe headed to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Alabama Crimson Tide have a big opening available at the quarterback spot next season.

Redshirt junior Ty Simpson is predicted to be the starter next season, but he'll certainly feel the pressure from incoming true freshman Keelon Russell, the No. 2 ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class, per On3.

Russell recently signed a NIL representation deal with Team IFA and last month agreed to a multi-year partnership with Panini America, a leading brand in sports collectibles.

While at the Panini Prizm VIP lounge in New Orleans before Super Bowl LIX, Russell discussed what he's learning about NIL within weeks of enrolling at Alabama in an interview with Nick Schultz of On3.

After signing representation and inking his first deal with Panini America, Alabama QB Keelon Russell set himself up for success in the NIL space.

Speaking with On3, Russell shared the biggest lesson he has learned about NIL.

Via @NickSchultz_7: https://t.co/lNmDryK4MH pic.twitter.com/0v4XYlGleC
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) February 10, 2025

“The best advice was to understand what’s coming towards you,” Russell said. “Understand that your profile is your profile. Understand that your name is your name. Building that is the most successful thing that you can do, especially with how the NIL space is getting bigger.

"The performances of the platforms are getting way more advanced. NIL is something that takes away from the aspects of football. Somebody told me: Focus on the key things."

On3 projects Russell's NIL valuation at $1.7 million, ranked 35th in their NIL 100 list.

“NIL is a great thing," Russell continued. "But focus on your key things and NIL’s gonna come. All the stuff’s gonna come. Focus on football, and the NIL space is gonna come. Your profile is your profile. You do good, your profile is gonna be on the rise.”

Russell, a native of Duncanville, Texas, committed to the Crimson Tide in June 2024 and enrolled at the university last month.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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