Cowboys star surprises Duncanville QB with Gatorade National Player of the Year honors
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs surprised Duncanville quarterback Keelon Russell, handing him the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award.
The honor is considered one of the best in all of high school sports and celebrates the nation’s best high school athletes for success on the field, classroom, and in the community. Russell is a five-star Alabama commit, while Diggs is an Alabama legend.
Gatorade Players of the Year have won six NFL Most Valuable Player Awards and have made 31 Pro Bowl appearances. There have been six players of the year who have been NFL first-round draft picks. Two have become hall of famers.
Former winners include Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning and DJ Lagway.
“The Gatorade Player of the Year Program has a 40-year history of recognizing young athletes on their journey to greatness,” said Gatorade Chief Brand Officer Anuj Bhasin in a press release. “Russell’s accomplishments have earned him a spot on the trophy alongside so many iconic athletes, and we can’t wait to see the legacy he will leave behind.”
“I love y’all, boys,” Russell said to his teammates after receiving the award. “It’s amazing. All four years, I’ve loved playing with y’all boys. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world, honestly. We’ve got a job to finish.”
Duncanville and Russell will play North Crowley in a Class 6A Division One state semifinal on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at Allen Eagle Stadium. Duncanville is looking for a three-peat.
Russell has been a force in his high school career, leading the nationally ranked-Duncanville Panthers. As a senior, he has tallied 3,874 passing yards and 53 touchdowns.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 12:40 PM.
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