JAMARCUS RUSSELL

'JaMarcus Russell' (born August 9, 1985 in Mobile, Alabama) is a quarterback drafted by the Oakland Raiders. He played collegiately for the LSU Tigers, and was the first overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Contents

Early years

College career

Freshman season

Sophomore season

Junior season

Awards and honors

NFL career

2007 NFL Draft

Signing controversy

References

External links

Early years

Russell played at Lillie B. Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama where he was coached by Bobby Parrish. Russell became the all-time passing leader in Alabama high school history as he threw for 10,744 yards in his career, eclipsing the mark set by former University of Alabama and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle. He also is ranked as the fifth all-time career rusher in Alabama high school history with 7,362 yards. As a senior in 2003, Russell connected on 219-of-372 passes for 3,332 yards and 22 touchdowns. He was named Alabama's Mr. Football and SuperPrep Dixie Offensive Player of the Year. He was named also to the ''Parade'' All-America Team. Further he was nominated to the SuperPrep All-America Team, FSN South's ''Countdown to Signing Day'' All-South First Team, ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' Super Southern 100 and the ''Orlando Sentinel'' All-Southern team.
As a consensus top five national pro-style quarterback in every major recruiting publication, Russell had numerous scholarship offers. He chose Louisiana State University over Florida State on National Signing Day.

College career

Freshman season

Russell was redshirted during the 2003 season, when quarterback Matt Mauck led LSU to the BCS National Championship. In 2004, he split time with senior quarterback Marcus Randall, playing in 11 games and starting 4. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 1,053 yards, throwing for 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
In the Capital One Bowl against Iowa, Russell came off the bench to lead LSU to two fourth-quarter scoring drives, allowing the Tigers to erase a 12 point deficit. However, on the final play of the game, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate completed a touchdown pass to Warren Holloway to beat the Tigers 30-25.

Sophomore season

By the fall 2005 season, Russell was the undisputed starting quarterback for LSU. He led LSU to a 10-1 regular season record, the SEC Western Division title, and a top-5 ranking going into the SEC Championship Game. He also improved statistically, completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,443 yards and 15 touchdowns. Russell received an honorable mention on the AP's All-SEC Team.
Russell led the Tigers to two dramatic come-from-behind wins in the regular season. The first came on a 39 yard pass to Early Doucet on 4th down in the final minute of the game, as the Tigers defeated Arizona State 35-31. Later in the season, LSU defeated a then-undefeated Alabama team 16-13 when Russell completed a 14 yard touchdown to Dwayne Bowe in overtime for the win.
Russell injured his shoulder in a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and missed the team's bowl game. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn replaced Russell for the Peach Bowl against Miami, and the Tigers won the game 40-3.
Russell also received some acclaim for his assistance efforts after Hurricane Katrina. After the hurricane and flood, Russell is reported to have housed around 20 people in his apartment, including legendary New Orleans singer Fats Domino, who had been rescued by boat during the flood.^[1]

Junior season

Russell was the starting quarterback again at LSU in 2006, beating out backup Matt Flynn and highly-touted redshirt freshman Ryan Perrilloux. He had a productive 2006 regular season, leading the Tigers to a 10-2 record and a BCS Sugar Bowl berth. He threw for 2,797 yards, 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He was also second in the SEC with 2,923 yards from scrimmage. He also won the SEC Offensive Player Of the Week award three times during the regular season.
A memorable performance of the 2006 season came against Tennessee. In spite of throwing three interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), he led LSU on a come-from-behind, 15-play, 80-yard drive in the final minutes of the game. The drive ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet with less than 10 seconds left in the game, and the Tigers defeated Tennessee 28-24. Earlier in the drive, Russell and Doucet also connected for a first down on a 4th and 8 situation. In the final game of his junior year, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Russell accumulated over 350 yards of passing and rushing and scored 3 TDs, leading to the Tigers 41-14 win over Notre Dame. He was also named the Sugar Bowl's MVP.
At the end of the 2006 season, Russell was named to the all-SEC first team, ahead of Kentucky's Andre Woodson and Florida's Chris Leak. In addition, he was named an honorable mention All-American by ''Sports Illustrated''.

Awards and honors

★ Columbus Touchdown Club SEC Player of the Year (2005)

★ 4x SEC Offensive Player of the Week (1 in 2005, 3 in 2006)

★ First-team All-SEC by the ''Associated Press'' and SEC coaches (2006)

★ Manning Award (2006)

★ Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist (2006)

★ Sugar Bowl MVP (2007)

NFL career

2007 NFL Draft

On January 10 2007, Russell stated that he had decided to skip his final season of NCAA eligibility with LSU and enter the 2007 NFL Draft,^[2], where he was picked by the Oakland Raiders as the 1st overall draft pick. USC coach Pete Carroll said he considered Russell to be the player his former offensive coordinator and current Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin should select.^[3] Soon after announcing his decision to enter the Draft, Russell began working out with former College of San Mateo coach Tom Martinez, who has also worked with Tom Brady.^[4]

Signing controversy

Prior to the beginning of the Raiders 2007 training camp, it was announced that Russell had failed to reach a contract agreement with Oakland executives. On July 31, the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported that talks between the two parties had slowed after failing to result in the signing of Russell and further revealed that former Miami Dolphins quarterback, Daunte Culpepper was close to reaching a contract agreement with the Raiders pending the results of a workout with Oakland representatives.^[5] On August 1, the team officially announced that Culpepper had been signed to a one-year contract, hoping that the move would pressure Russell into signing with the franchise.
[1]

References

1. http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_5132923
2. LSU's JaMarcus Russell is going pro Glenn Guilbeau
3. USC football coach Pete Carroll Sticking around
4. JaMarcus turns to Brady's Guru
5. http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/OAK/10275814

External links

★ JaMarcus Russell bio on LSUsports.net

★ JaMarcus Russell NFL Draft Profile