iStockphoto / © David Leong-Imagn Images
The Alabama football team took down SEC foe South Carolina on Saturday in Williams-Brice Stadium. Video from the postgame celebration is now raising eyebrows.
Five-star QB Keelon Russell was seen talking to a Gamecocks‘ staff member after the win. Was it tampering?
Video of the interaction has sparked concerns amongst the Crimson Tide faithful. Many are fully convinced that the conversation was shady in nature.
It’s impossible to jump to a definitive conclusion in a two-second exchange with no context. Here are the facts.
Russell is currently buried on the Alabama depth chart. South Carolina could need a quarterback next season given LaNorris Sellers’ first round NFL Draft grade.
Would the Gamecocks be so bold as to tamper in the open?
Who is Keelon Russell?
The quarterback was a five-star recruit in the 2025 recruiting class. He was the headliner for Kalen DeBoer, ranking as the Crimson Tide’s top player in the cycle and the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation.
The Duncanville, Texas native held scholarship offers from a number of notable college football programs. He took official visits to see Alabama, Ole Miss, Oregon, and SMU.
Initially, he committed to play for the Mustangs. Despite that pledge, the Crimson Tide continued to recruit Russell. It eventually paid off in the form of a flip.
The quarterback decommitted from SMU and enrolled at Alabama in January of 2025. He has appeared in just one game as a freshman. His head coach does not want second thoughts creeping into his recruitment again.
Kalen DeBoer intervened in a suspicious conversation.
Earlier this year, Crimson Tide fans grew enraged by what they believed to be a suspicious discussion between Russell and a Wisconsin staffer. Now, South Carolina is in the crosshairs.
This moment from coach DeBoer and Ryan Williams🥹#rolltide #rtr #collegefootball pic.twitter.com/Rv394H2cUs
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) October 26, 2025
A video was posted after Alabama’s 29-22 comeback win over South Carolina. It was meant to highlight a postgame interaction between Kalen DeBoer and wideout Ryan Williams.
Viewers were more concerned with what happened after Williams left the screen.
The clip shows the coach breaking up a conversation between Keelon Russell and a South Carolina staff member. That assistant is believed to be running backs coach Marquel Blackwell.
Blackwell is familiar with Russell. He was previously at Texas A&M, a school the passer unofficially visited while the coach was on staff.
Blackwell was the person to officially extend the Aggies’ offer to Russell as a high school prospect. He was heavily involved in his recruitment.
Wowww #AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachBlack10 i am truly blessed to have earned an scholarship offer from TEXAS A&M @tempo_strike @CoachQBJames @JMitchQB9 @CoachPolite10 @OldSchoolQB @jlovvorn7 @CoachMartinezDV @CoachSamuels11 @drobalwayzopen pic.twitter.com/1JlHqMI5MW
— Keelon “Dot em” Russell (@Pres1dential) May 15, 2023
Ultimately, Russell chose SMU, and later Bama. Blackwell wound up at South Carolina. Still, the relationship remains.
This might’ve been a friendly conversation between two familiar faces. Given the history, Alabama believes it was deeper. Kalen DeBoer stepped in to quickly end the exchange. He does not want Keelon Russell to leave Tuscaloosa!