Keelon Russell, a four-star quarterback prospect from the class of 2025, committed to Alabama’s football team earlier this month. Russell won MVP honors at the 2024 Elite 11 on Thursday, beating out Tavien St. Clair (Ohio State), Husan Longstreet (Texas A&M), and Ryan Montgomery (Georgia). Russell joins an elite group of Elite 11 MVP winners and will have higher expectations during his time in Tuscaloosa. However, one member of the Louisiana media believes Russell’s performance on Thursday means little, if anything, for his future prospects.
Following the announcement that Russell would receive the Elite 11 MVP honors, Matt Moscona of ESPN Baton Rouge took to Twitter (also known as X) to downplay the future Alabama football player’s achievement. Moscona listed 14 of the previous 22 Elite 11 MVPs or co-MVPs, many of which failed to live up to expectations at the collegiate level, as a reason for Alabama fans to temper expectations.
ESPN Baton Rouge Personality: Takes Shot at Alabama Football
Matt Moscona, an ESPN personality, is Alabama football supporters’ number one public nemesis. On Thursday, he tweeted, somewhat sarcastically, “I’d like to congratulate Bama fans on your QB commit’s Elite 11 MVP. “What an honor!” Moscona then went on to name some former Elite 11 MVPs who failed to make an impact at the FBS level. Moscona’s list includes Kyle Wright, Rhett Bomar, Jake Heaps, Tanner Mangum, Neal Burcham, Asiantii Woulard, Sean White, and Blake Barnett. Notably, Wright threw 38 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in four years at Miami, whereas Barnett, a former Alabama commit, appeared little in his one season with the Crimson Tide.
