Purdue Football: 20 Year Countdown – #99 Ryan Russell

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Sep 21, 2013; Madison, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers defensive end Ryan Russell (99) during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Purdue 41-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Ryan Russell​

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Bio​

Career: 2010 – 2014

Position: Defensive end

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 273

Hometown: Carrollton, Texas

High School: Creekview

Career Stats​

Games Played: 50

Tackles: 149

Tackles For Loss: 24.5

Sacks: 9.5

Notes​

High School

• Second Tem All-District
• Creekview Defensive MVP
• 62 Tackles, 17 TFLS, 5 Sacks as a Senior

Purdue

2010

• Redshirt

2011

• Appeared in 13 games with 11 Starts

2012

• 13 Starts
• 7 Tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 Sack vs Notre Dame
• 7 Tackles, 1 Sack vs Oklahoma State in Heart of Dallas Bowl

2013

• Appeared in 12 games with 11 Starts
• 6 Tackles, 1 Sack vs Cincinatti
• 6 Tackles, 1 TFL vs Indiana

NFL Draft​

Dallas Cowboys – 5th Round, 163rd Overall Pick

Highlights​

Hammer and Rails Staff Memories​

Drew:

Russell had a strange Purdue career. He looked like the next member of the Den of Defensive Ends after putting up 37 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks in 2012 as a true sophomore, including big performances against Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

Then Darrell Hazel Happened.

Purdue switched from a base 4-3 to a base 3-4, moved their most disruptive defensive end to outside linebacker, and Russell’s productivity nosedived. He recorded 5 sacks in his first 2 seasons at Purdue and 4.5 in his final 2 seasons. He was clearly talented, but never took the step from talented player to dominant defensive end. Like most things, Hazel and his merry band of coaching misfits hold more than a little of the blame for Russell never cashing in on his early promise.

Russell was good, but I feel like his career arc is the perfect example of Purdue’s futility under Hazell.

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