JaMarcus Russell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
JaMarcus Russell

Russell with the Oakland Raiders in 2008
No. 2
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1985-08-09) August 9, 1985 (age 40) Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	Williamson (Mobile)
College:	LSU (2003–2006)
NFL Draft:	2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Oakland Raiders (2007–2009)
Career highlights and awards
BCS national champion (2003) Manning Award (2006) First-team All-SEC (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 680 Passing completions: 354 Completion percentage: 52.1% TD–INT: 18–23 Passing yards: 4,083 Passer rating: 65.2
Player stats at PFR

JaMarcus Trenell Russell (born August 9, 1985) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons. Russell played for the Oakland Raiders.

Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the LSU Tigers. As a junior, he won the Manning Award. He was also named the most valuable player of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. Russell was chosen as the first overall player in the 2007 NFL draft. However, his time in the NFL was short. He faced challenges with his performance and staying in top shape. He was released by the Raiders in 2010. Despite trying to return to the NFL, he did not sign with another team.

JaMarcus Russell's Early Life and High School

Russell was born in Mobile, Alabama. He went to Lillie B. Williamson High School. He was the starting quarterback for all four years. He never missed a football game.

In his first year, Russell completed 180 passes for 2,683 yards. He also threw 20 touchdowns. His team reached the state championship game. By his second year, Russell was taller and stronger. He started to get letters from college recruiters. He also understood the team's plays better. He passed for 2,616 yards and 20 touchdowns that year. He led his team to the semifinals.

Russell's best season was his senior year. He completed 219 passes for 3,332 yards. He threw 22 touchdowns and ran for 400 yards. He also scored five rushing touchdowns. This earned him honors from Parade magazine. His career total of 10,774 passing yards broke the Alabama High School Athletic Association record. This record still stands today.

Russell also played basketball in high school. He threw the javelin in track and field.

College Football Career

Starting at LSU

In February 2003, Russell decided to play for Louisiana State University (LSU). He chose LSU over Florida State University. He was the 28th and final player to join the LSU Tigers in 2003. He did not play in his first year, which is called redshirting.

By the fall of the 2005 season, Russell became the starting quarterback. He led the Tigers to a great regular season record of 10 wins and 1 loss. They won the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Western Division title. They were ranked among the top five teams. Russell also improved his stats. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,443 yards. He threw 15 touchdowns. He received an honorable mention for the AP's All-SEC Team.

Russell helped the Tigers win two games by coming from behind. In one game, he threw a 39-yard pass for a touchdown. This happened with less than a minute left. LSU won against Arizona State 35–31. Later, LSU beat an undefeated Alabama team 16–13. He threw a 14-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win the game.

Russell hurt his shoulder in a game against Georgia. This was during the SEC Championship Game. He missed the team's bowl game. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn played instead. LSU won the Peach Bowl against Miami 40–3.

Junior Season Success

Russell was the starting quarterback for LSU again in 2006. He played better than Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux. Before the season, he changed his jersey number from 4 to 2. He had a very good 2006 season. He led the Tigers to a 10–2 record. They earned a spot in the BCS Sugar Bowl. He threw for 3,129 yards, 28 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He was second in the SEC for total yards gained. Russell also won the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award three times.

In a game against Tennessee, Russell started poorly. He threw three interceptions. But he then led LSU on a long comeback drive. He threw a touchdown pass with less than 10 seconds left. LSU won 28–24. In the Allstate Sugar Bowl, he gained over 350 yards passing and rushing. He scored three touchdowns. LSU won 41–14 against Notre Dame. He was named the Sugar Bowl MVP for his great play.

At the end of the 2006 season, Russell was named to the all-SEC first-team. He was chosen over other top quarterbacks. On January 10, 2007, Russell decided to enter the 2007 NFL draft. He chose to skip his final year of college eligibility.

College Statistics

Season	Team	GP	Passing
			Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD	Int
2003	LSU	Redshirt
2004	LSU	11	73	144	50.7	1,053	9	4
2005	LSU	12	188	311	60.5	2,443	15	9
2006	LSU	13	232	342	67.8	3,129	28	8
College		36	493	797	61.9	6,625	52	21

College Awards

• Columbus Touchdown Club SEC Player of the Year (2005)
• 4× 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)

JaMarcus Russell's NFL Career

Russell was chosen by the Oakland Raiders as the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was one of four LSU players picked in the first round.

John Clayton of ESPN said that Russell's arm strength and size impressed many teams. He predicted it would be hard to pass on Russell as the first pick. Russell himself said he was always bigger and taller than other kids. He could always throw the ball a good distance. Cleveland Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Russell had "substantial talent." He called him a "rare combination of size and arm strength."

2007 NFL Season

Russell talking with offensive coordinator Greg Knapp

Russell did not sign a contract with the Raiders right away. He missed training camp and the first week of the 2007 NFL season. On September 12, he signed a six-year contract. It was worth up to $68 million, with $31.5 million guaranteed. Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin did not make Russell the starting quarterback immediately. He said Russell had missed training camp.

Russell played his first professional game on December 2, 2007. This was against the Denver Broncos. He came into the game in the second quarter. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 56 yards. On December 23, 2007, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Russell threw his first career touchdown pass. It was a two-yard pass to Zach Miller. He finished that game with 7 completions on 23 attempts for 83 yards. He had one touchdown pass and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble.

Russell made his first career start in the last game of the season. This was against the San Diego Chargers. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. These mistakes led to 17 points for the Chargers. Russell completed 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards. He had one touchdown, two interceptions, and a lost fumble. Russell finished his first season with 36 completed passes on 66 attempts. He had 373 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. After the San Diego game, Coach Kiffin named him the starting quarterback for the 2008 season.

2008 NFL Season

Russell (#2) taking the snap versus the Atlanta Falcons.

Russell started the first game of the 2008 season. It was against the Denver Broncos. The Raiders lost 41–14. Russell completed 17 of 26 passes for 180 yards. He also threw two touchdowns. In the next game, the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs 23–8. Russell passed for 55 yards. He completed 6 of 17 passes with no touchdowns or interceptions.

In Week 7, the Raiders beat the New York Jets 16–13 in overtime. This win ended their four-game home losing streak. Russell completed 17 of 30 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown. This was coach Tom Cable's first win as Raiders head coach. Russell led the team on a 43-yard drive. This set up the game-winning field goal. The next four games were losses. A week later, he led the Raiders to a 31–10 victory against Denver. He completed 10 of 11 passes for 152 yards and threw one touchdown.

Russell finished the 2008 season by winning two games in a row. These were against the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In those last three games, Russell threw for six touchdowns and two interceptions.

2009 NFL Season

In August 2009, Russell was named the starting quarterback for the Raiders. In a Week 5 loss to the New York Giants, Russell lost three fumbles. He passed for 100 yards. After a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on November 15, Russell was benched. Coach Tom Cable chose Bruce Gradkowski to start instead. Gradkowski led two fourth-quarter comebacks. He upset the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers in the next two weeks. He threw five touchdown passes.

After Gradkowski was injured, Russell finished a game for the Raiders. It resulted in a loss. Coach Cable then decided to start Charlie Frye instead of Russell. This moved Russell to third on the team's quarterback list. When Frye was injured, Russell played near the end of a game. The game resulted in a win. Russell finished the 2009 season with some of the lowest stats among NFL quarterbacks.

In March 2010, Russell was reported to be heavier than his playing weight. By April, he was reported to be even heavier. However, a reporter said Russell had "a good first minicamp" and was "in great shape." Russell said he would "compete for the job, work my tail off."

The Raiders traded for quarterback Jason Campbell. This left the team with five quarterbacks. On May 6, 2010, the Raiders released Russell.

JaMarcus Russell's NFL Statistics

JaMarcus Russell's Personal Life

Russell's uncle, Ray Ray Russell, was a long-time DJ and radio host. He worked for the Mobile, Alabama-based station WBLX until he passed away in 2009. In 2011, Russell's cousin, DeAngelo Parker, started a restaurant in Mobile. It was named Ray Ray's Chicken and Waffles, in honor of his uncle. Russell later shared that he did not have enough time to properly deal with the passing of his two uncles. They passed away within months of each other.

After Hurricane Katrina, Russell helped about a dozen people. These people had to leave their homes in New Orleans due to flooding. He let them stay in his apartment. This included the famous New Orleans singer Fats Domino.

Images for kids

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  Russell with the Oakland Raiders in 2008

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  Russell talking with offensive coordinator Greg Knapp

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  Russell (#2) taking the snap versus the Atlanta Falcons.

See also

In Spanish: JaMarcus Russell para niños