Earlier this month, Kieron Russell, a four-star quarterback prospect for the class of 2025, committed to the Alabama football program. On Thursday, Russell was named the 2024 Elite 11 MVP, beating out the likes of Tavian St. Clair (Ohio State), Hughes Longstreet (Texas A&M) and Ryan Montgomery (Georgia). Russell joins a special list of Elite 11 MVP recipients and will likely have high expectations for his tenure in Tuscaloosa. However, one Louisiana-area media member believes Russell’s accomplishment on Thursday will have little to no impact on his future evaluation.
After it was announced that Russell would receive the Elite 11 MVP honor, Matt Moscona of ESPN Baton Rouge took to Twitter (aka X) to downplay the future Alabama football player’s accomplishments: Moscona cited 14 of the last 22 Elite 11 MVPs or co-MVPs, many of whom failed to live up to expectations at the collegiate level, as a reason for Alabama fans to temper their expectations.
ESPN Baton Rouge personalities criticize Alabama football
ESPN personality Matt Moscona is enemy number one for Alabama football fans. On Thursday, he tweeted in a decidedly sarcastic tone, “Congratulations to all Alabama fans on your quarterback winning the Elite 11 MVP award. What an honor!” Moscona then listed off a number of former Elite 11 MVPs who failed to make a big impact at the FBS level. Among those he cited were Kyle Wright, Rhett Bohmer, Jake Heaps, Tanner Mangum, Neil Burcham, Asiatique Woolard, Sean White and Blake Barnett. Wright, in particular, threw 38 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in his four years at Miami, while former Alabama alum Barnett barely played in his lone season with the Crimson Tide.
Congratulations to Alabama fans on being named the Elite 11 MVP! What an honor! He joins the ranks of past Elite MVP winners who all had incredible collegiate careers, including:
Julien Thayne (The one who left you behind)
Cade Klubnik
Spencer Rattler
Shea Patterson
Blake Barnett (Alabama…— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) June 20, 2024
Moscona also mentioned 2023 Elite 11 MVP Julien Sain, who transferred from Alabama to Ohio State this offseason. But Moscona should have mentioned past MVPs who had stellar collegiate careers. Among the players who have earned Elite 11 MVP honors and gone on to have phenomenal college football careers are former Alabama gunslingers Brodie Croyle and Tua Tagovailoa, former USC star Mark Sanchez, future Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford, longtime Georgia star Aaron Murray, 2013 national champion Jameis Winston, Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, former Ohio State star Justin Fields and budding superstar CJ Stroud, now with the Houston Texans.
Kieron Russell: To the Alabama Crimson Tide
Kieron Russell, ranked No. 7 in the 2025 class by 247Sports, committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide earlier this month. He also holds offers from Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, UCLA and others. Russell currently plays for Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. Last season with Russell under center, Duncanville went 14-1 and won its second consecutive Texas 6A D-1 state title. Russell dominated the competition, throwing for 3,483 yards with 38 touchdowns and three interceptions. He completed 72% of his passes and threw for 2,377 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2022.
247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins praised Russell, calling him “an elite playmaker at quarterback who can break down defenses with his arm and his legs.” Ivins also said Russell “should be considered one of the most exciting playmakers in the 2025 cycle.”
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