'12 WA RB Keivarae Russell (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[Irish Houstonian]

I think Phil Steele or maybe SI put him in their 3rd Team A-A, so that's another person who has him in the top 6 of all corners this year.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I bought a Lindy's CFB preview magazine and they have him #11 CB overall.

 

[NDBoiler]

I bought a Lindy's CFB preview magazine and they have him #11 CB overall.

Lol wut.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Lindy's pretty much crapped all over ND in that preview magazine. The only guys in their position rankings were:

Golson #24 QB
Smith #7 OLB
Russell #11 CB

 

[Andy in Sactown]

Lindy's pretty much crapped all over ND in that preview magazine. The only guys in their position rankings were:

Golson #24 QB
Smith #7 OLB
Russell #11 CB

That a crock of shit right there.

 

[yankeeND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>KeiVarae Russell is up next in our 2014 projections series. Will this year be his last at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a>? (VIP): <a href="http://t.co/JZRMItYF44">http://t.co/JZRMItYF44</a></p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/483701087493320704">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="http://t.co/gaScsXurdH">http://t.co/gaScsXurdH</a> previews All-American CB candidate -- in his own mind and in many others -- KeiVarae Russell:
<a href="http://t.co/OB9MT7C3t5">http://t.co/OB9MT7C3t5</a></p>— Tim O'Malley (@timomalleyND) <a href="https://twitter.com/timomalleyND/statuses/484056284069494785">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Luckylucci]

"I’m going to ball out. I’m predicting it now: You test me all game, you’re going to lose. You can put that in the papers."

That is so boss.

 

[md_bennett]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="http://t.co/gaScsXurdH">http://t.co/gaScsXurdH</a> previews All-American CB candidate -- in his own mind and in many others -- KeiVarae Russell:
<a href="http://t.co/OB9MT7C3t5">http://t.co/OB9MT7C3t5</a></p>— Tim O'Malley (@timomalleyND) <a href="https://twitter.com/timomalleyND/statuses/484056284069494785">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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On one level I hope he does have an all-american type of year. On another worry about keeping him for the 4th year if he does have that kind of year. Either way I cannot wait to see him play this year. Great player who switched positions before he even started because the depth chart took such a hit. Really appreciate this kid's passion for the game.

 

[Kingbish01]

I wonder who 5Q is?

Tee Shepard

 

[Junkhead]

Tee Shepard

Too soon.

 

[zelezo vlk]

"I’m going to ball out. I’m predicting it now: You test me all game, you’re going to lose. You can put that in the papers."

That is so boss.

Stone cold baller.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> QB Everett Golson is on the Maxwell watch list, while LB Jaylon Smith and CB KeiVarae Russell are on the Bednarik watch list.</p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/486155345556172800">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>KeiVarae Russell and Jaylon Smith have been named to the Nagurski watch list & Sheldon Day is on the Outland Trophy watch list. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a></p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/487235560655052800">July 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Luckylucci]

Left of the Jim Thorpe preseason watch list. These preseason lists are pretty ridiculous but to not make the list of the 39 best DB's in crazy. Especially considering he's on the preseason list for best defensive player (Nagurski watch list). Joke and now I'm pissed for him

 

[Kak7304]

Left of the Jim Thorpe preseason watch list. These preseason lists are pretty ridiculous but to not make the list of the 39 best DB's in crazy. Especially considering he's on the preseason list for best defensive player (Nagurski watch list). Joke and now I'm pissed for him

Good. KR seems like the type that will use it as motivation to work even harder. I think he'll be on the list during the season.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Respect for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ND?src=hash">#ND</a> CB Russell grows <a href="http://t.co/wF1X5LxDNg">http://t.co/wF1X5LxDNg</a></p>— Bob Wieneke (@BobWienekeNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobWienekeNDI/statuses/488875638338908160">July 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Please note that KeiVarae Russell was named to the <a href="https://twitter.com/BednarikAward">@BednarikAward</a> Watch List today! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrishGo?src=hash">#GoIrishGo</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/statuses/489792589638676481">July 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> faces 9 WRs on the Biletnikoff Watch List. Can KeiVarae Russell be the shutdown CB the Irish need? <a href="http://t.co/OY4teIgkyF">http://t.co/OY4teIgkyF</a></p>— Keith Arnold (@KeithArnold) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithArnold/statuses/492014861887369216">July 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[PANDFAN]

(FREE)
The day KeiVarae Russell committed to Notre Dame, the Irish lost to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl. Rashad Greene was named MVP of the contest, catching five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.

"That day was funny," Russell said. "Everybody thought I did it on purpose. I didn't know they were playing. U-Dub [Washington] was playing that day, too."

More on Notre Dame
Notre Dame For full coverage of the Irish, check out the Notre Dame blog, part of ESPN's College Football Nation. Blog
More:
• Notre Dame's clubhouse page
• ESPN Chicago's college blog

And yet, the Everett, Wash., product was an expected running back or receiver upon his commitment.

"I know," Russell said with a smile. "I didn't think I was going to be corner, but I'm enjoying it now."

That he is, with the junior entering 2014 as confident and talkative as ever as he looks to take advantage of more 1-on-1 matchups that will exploit his speed. Russell has started all 26 games of his college career through two seasons, having been thrown into an emergency corner role during fall camp of 2012 after then-projected starter Lo Wood tore his Achilles tendon. Now he is on watch lists such as the Bednarik and Nagurski, which honor the nation's top defensive players.

And yet he's not on the watch list for the Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back.

"It doesn’t make sense," he said. "I always look at stuff like that because it’s so funny. I can’t wait. I’m excited. Another chip on my shoulder, a reason to work harder and show the guys I can be one of the best corners in the country. I have work to do, and I’m excited."

Russell is hoping the switch from zone coverage under Bob Diaco to more press coverage under new coordinator Brian VanGorder will only grant him more opportunities to build off his three career interceptions and 10 career pass breakups. The aggressive style should, in theory, provide a boost to Russell and the rest of an experienced secondary, which is playing behind a relatively green front-seven.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder admitted that the new concept was somewhat tiring at first during fall practice No. 1 Monday, joking that he probably dropped 10 pounds running around in the heat. But he simplified the approach, allowing himself to get into a groove and, in true Russell fashion, become a pest in the receivers' sides.

"I have to get to that point where my technique is flawless," Russell said. "When people go against me they’d be like, ‘Oh damn, him again?’ Perfecting every part of my game. Not just press-man, but off-man, when they’re in bunches, I have to play off. With a three-way bunch I have to be able to play man-to-man that way, just perfecting my game."

Brian Kelly sees Russell taking on the challenge of trying to be among the best in the country, with the fifth-year Irish coach throwing out names like NFL stars Darrelle Revis and Patrick Peterson when discussing what his junior corner is aiming to be like.

"He wants to be the very best at his position, so he's driven to be that player," Kelly said. "He's not there yet, so that's his focus."

Russell, for his part, has already done some scouting of upcoming receivers he will likely find himself up against later this season, drawing analogies with his teammates each time he faces them in practice.

"I studied that little slot from North Carolina, I studied him," Russell said of the speedy Ryan Switzer. "I studied [USC's Nelson] Agholor, I still look at those guys now, and I studied Rice receivers. But they're all different body receivers."

To Russell, teammate Chris Brown is like Agholor. Corey Robinson is like Arizona State's Jaelen Strong. Short and fast, tall and strong, Russell is ready to take on all comers this season.

Florida State's Greene may be on the docket again this Oct. 18 as well, but Russell is more concerned with the bigger picture from that night he committed to Notre Dame nearly three years ago.

"We ain't going to be in the Champs Sports Bowl," he said with a smile.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish's KeiVarae Russell relishes responsibility - ESPN

 

[kmoose]

"I’m going to ball out. I’m predicting it now: You test me all game, you’re going to lose. You can put that in the papers."

That is so boss.

Talking it is brash......... backing it up on the field would be boss.

 

[ndfb3]

One year after Notre Dame football lost its starting QB, Everett Golson, for the 2013 season after he was caught cheating on an exam, the Fighting Irish team is dealing with the repercussions from more academic fraud.
This time, four starters have been dismissed from ND after the school conducted an internal investigation this summer, sources close to the program told FOX Sports.
The players being investigated are receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive back KeiVarae Russell, defensive lineman Ishaq Williams and linebacker Kendall Moore.
It is unclear at this time if the four players will be allowed to return to the school in the future as Golson has after he sat out the entire fall semester. He returned to South Bend last winter and has won his old starting QB job.

The Irish, ranked No. 17 in the preseason coaches poll, open the year Aug. 30 against Rice.

Notre Dame dismisses four players connected academic fraud investigation | FOX Sports

 

[woolybug25]

Was it really necessary to cut and paste the FOX article into each one of the recruit's threads? I think we caught it in the main thread.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Feldman doesn't cite, or even allude to, his "sources" here. Still strikes me as strange that a group of players as apparently varied as Russell, I. Williams, Daniels and Moore are all equally guilty of the same offense. Based on Forde's article, it sounds like the investigation is still ongoing, and the players have all been "separated" from the program until their status is established.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Feldman doesn't cite, or even allude to, his "sources" here. Still strikes me as strange that a group of players as apparently varied as Russell, I. Williams, Daniels and Moore are all equally guilty of the same offense. Based on Forde's article, it sounds like the investigation is still ongoing, and the players have all been "separated" from the program until their status is established.

With the exception of Moore, they all have one thing in common: NFL prospects.

 

[SoIll]

suspended from football activities during investigation... Per Joe Schad

 

[Whiskeyjack]

With the exception of Moore, they all have one thing in common: NFL prospects.

Prime targets for a crazed jersey chaser, in other words.

suspended from football activities during investigation... Per Joe Schad

Things are looking up...

 

[rtrn2glory]

most disappointed in him. seemed like he was a leader of the team.

 

[Grahambo]

most disappointed in him. seemed like he was a leader of the team.

Well, let's wait and see what the investigation reveals. Just because his name was involved doesn't mean much right now. I don't take it to mean an automatic admission of guilt. I think ND is playing it safe right now and holding them out of practice. I don't even think they're kicked off the team; just "suspended" until further notice.

I think the punishment by ND will tell you how big of a role he had. They have shown who you are doesn't matter, if you screwed up, you're gone.

 

[irishfan]

Holding out hope that the worst-case scenario for KVR is that he's suspended for the semester and returns next year. Maybe a long shot with his NFL aspirations. He's the loss that stings the most for me due to likability/skill.