(EXCLUSIVE) Keelon Russell & Husan Longstreet Make the Cut as Adam Breneman Makes Freshmen QB Admission

Old with the old and in with the new. Another season of College Football is on the horizon, and it brings along a new batch of freshmen. More names for the masses to get privy to and then cherish. So, in order to get a gauge on which names are worth keeping an eye out for come fall, we at EssentiallySports did an exclusive interview with CFB analyst, ex-player, and general football savant Adam Breneman. The premise of what we tackled was straightforward, but one that has perennially got the juices flowing. “Who are some freshmen to watch out for in 2025?”

Now, conventional wisdom and history suggest true freshmen quarterbacks shouldn’t be thrown into the deep end. Being asked to float and then swim despite their lack of acclimatization and experience within the collegiate game. For one, it often proves counterproductive to team performance and results. But more importantly, it’s potentially detrimental to their individual growth and development. Patience sure is a virtue, but allowing for time to grow physically, mentally, and skill-wise is both shrewd and recommended. No matter how magnetic the allure of a malleable QB is, or how badly they need an influx of talent, coaches mostly adhere. It’s rare that a true freshman is the starter under center. However, you sometimes get players so good it’s hard to show restraint. This tryst with chasing instant gratification vs being patient is what Kalen DeBoer and Lincoln Riley are probably going through right now.

During his exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, two standout names that Adam Breneman mentioned were Keelon Russell and Husan Longstreet. Instinctively, their endorsement for a “watch out” list seems premature. Both quarterbacks are expected to be backups in year 1, for the reasons aforementioned. However, scratch the surface, and you realize this could simply be Breneman thinking ahead of the curve. Players that begin the year lower down the depth chart, but ascend through it by the end. If that was the thought process, what a pair to make your bed with. “Don’t be surprised if he pushes for reps — big arm and swag to match,” said Adam Breneman to describe Husan Longstreet whose arrival at USC coincides with an air of positivity descending upon the program.

The Trojans’ facility has seen more 5-stars than downtown LA, and Longstreet adds to that lineage. With QB whisperer Lincoln Riley as his head coach- a guy whose resume includes 4 current NFL starters and 3 Heisman winners- Longstreet is in the right place to hone his talent and thrive. Even if he doesn’t get the nod over Jayden Maiava for the ‘25 season, he’s a super intriguing prospect. USC currently boasts a top-3 ranked recruiting class for 2026. Having Husan Longstreet spearhead that era in South Cali sure sounds fun. That said, it really isn’t outside the realm of possibilities that Breneman’s cheeky prediction of him pushing Maiava comes true. This is a program and a head coach in need of a spark. Something to truly kickstart the Riley era. A freshman slinging it downfield can do that. This actually segues rather well to Alabama’s Keelon Russell.

With all due respect to Husan Longstreet, Keelon Russell is damn near a 6-star. The Gatorade National POTY comes to Tuscaloosa as a 100 on the 247Sports Composite. This makes him Bama’s highest-rated prospect ever, and it epitomizes who he really is. That said, word reverberating out of campus is that he’s quite unlikely to win the job this year. Kalen DeBoer and new OC Ryan Grubb are expected to give the reins to fellow 5-star Ty Simpson, who wins on seniority and what that brings about in terms of experience. Adam Breneman concurs with the notion that Russell will have to bide his time. But he’s still keeping a window open. “Maybe the future in Tuscaloosa — ultra-talented and mature beyond his years,” he told EssentiallySports. The last bit does keep things interesting. Aside from these two QBs, Breneman named 3 other players worth keeping tabs on for 2025.

Adam Breneman shouts out a trifecta of freshmen outside of Keelon Russell and Husan Longstreet

Adam Breneman showed love to a trio of offensive skill-position guys. One guy he’s high on is Oregon wideout Dakorien Moore. “Five-star talent with speed and polish — should play early,” he said with regards to Moore. Dan Lanning’s Ducks have just lost Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden from their receiving corps. So Moore really could be a feature off the jump. He wasn’t the only WR Breneman shouted out.

“Twitchy, explosive, and already making noise this spring” is what he said about Florida’s Vernell Brown III. Another 5-star, Brown instantly accentuates an offense with arguably the hottest quarterback in the country as its pièce de résistance. DJ Lagway gets a new weapon capable of playing on the perimeter and in the slot, and fans get another name to watch out for. Lastly, you know former All-American tight end Adam Breneman had to name-drop a player in his position. 

Linkon Cure, the No.1 TE in the class of ‘26, surprised many when he stayed ten toes down in his early commitment to Kansas State. Oregon tried to flip him right down to the wire, but even that Nike pull didn’t quite work on him. “Big frame, athletic, and could be a mismatch problem early,” said Breneman to describe Cure. Alas, there’s plenty of food for thought with these 5 names Breneman leveraged during his exclusive interview with EssentiallySports. Husan Longstreet and Keelon Russell remain the more ‘out there’ ones. Not because of skill, but because of the probability of them getting onto the field. It’ll be fascinating to see how things transpire over the course of the season. 

The post (EXCLUSIVE) Keelon Russell & Husan Longstreet Make the Cut as Adam Breneman Makes Freshmen QB Admission appeared first on EssentiallySports.