Brent Russell - 2012

BRENT RUSSELL – DL – 6-2, 300
Comer, Ga. (Madison County H.S.)

Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in April 2013… Played in the 2013 Raycom College Football All-Star Classic for legendary NFL coach Dan Reeves…Disruptive lineman with exceptional quickness for size and instinct forced opponents to adjust game plan to avoid him… Dominant and powerful player with great work ethic.

SENIOR 2012: Four-year All-American became Georgia Southern’s career sacks leader with 25.0 and finished second on the all-time tackles for loss list with 54.5… First team All-Southern Conference pick by both league’s coaches and media all four years as an Eagle… Had 8.5 tackles for loss as a senior… Logged 4.5 sacks (3u, 3a) for 30 yards… Season best six total tackles vs. Samford (1-5) and registered four five-total tackle games during season… Second among linemen for total tackles with 44 while sustaining majority of opponent double teams… had a pass breakup at Old Dominion (12-8)… Starter in all 53 games played in his career, including 13 as a senior… Appears twice on both Georgia Southern’s single-season sacks and TFL lists for 2010 and 2011 seasons… Second all time with five blocked kicks, including one in 2012 season finale vs. NDSU…  Named the All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

JUNIOR (2011): SoCon Defensive Player of the Year... Selected as a First Team All-American by the Sports Network and Phill Steele... Also named an All-American by the Associated Press, College Sporting News, Walter Camp Foundation... Named First Team All-Conference by both the Coaches and the Media Association... Started in all 13 games he played... Finished fourth on the team with 67 tackles... Led the squad with 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks... Also broke up two passes and posted two quarterback hurries... Blocked Ray Early's extra point in the Furman (10/15) game... Recorded a sack in back-to-back games at Samford (9/3) and against Tusculum (9/10)... Finished with five tackles against the Pioneers... Totaled eight tackles and a tackle for loss against Chattanooga (10/8)... Posted a season-high 10 tackles and two tackles for loss at #5 Appalachian State (10/29)... Recorded six or more stops in all three of the FCS Playoff games... Made a tackle for loss or more in the final four games of the season.

SOPHOMORE (2010): Buck Buchanan Award finalist... racked up numerous All-America honors following season with recognition from Walter Camp, first-team honors from the Associated Press and Phil Steele Publications... Sports Network second-team All-American... First-Team All-SoCon selection by Coaches and Media Association... ranks 12th nationally with 14 career sacks and 13th nationally with 29.5 career tackles for loss according to the NCAA... totaled 18.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2010... blocked PAT attempt at Coastal Carolina and scooped it up, lateralling to Derek Heyden for the defensive conversion to put the Eagles up 12-6... SoCon Defensive Player of the Month (November)... earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors (November 15) following performance against Western Carolina with seven tackles and a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss in that game... anchored defensive line with 15 starts at nose tackle... tied his career best with two of the Eagles' four sacks against Savannah State, both coming in the first quarter... tied Derek Heyden for team lead with eight tackles and a tackle for loss against Samford... shared team season-best with Roderick Tinsley with 3.5 tackles for loss vs. Western Carolina... had seven tackles at Chattanooga... recorded share of team lead with Derek Heyden with six tackles against Mountaineers... had 2.5 TFL and was credited with half a sack in that victory... posted seven tackles against Catamounts... forced fumble in South Carolina State playoff game led to a scoop and score by Josh Gebhardt... also had seven tackles in Wofford playoff game with a forced fumble... tallied a share of team-best five tackles against the Tigers with Kyle Oehlbeck... added a tackle for loss and pass breakup in opener... sacked Navy QB Ricky Dobbs for loss of seven yards, added two more tackles against Midshipmen.

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2009): College Sporting News Freshman of the Year and All-American for 2009... earned first team SoCon Media Association honors and second team all-SoCon honors from the league coaches after season to became only the third Eagle this decade to earn those honors as a freshman... only rookie selected to 2009 SoCon top squad and one of only two selected overall... one of two returning Eagles on defense to have started all 11 games... played at every position on the D-line last season... registered a team-best 6.0 sacks which put him in a tie for 53rd nationally, the second-highest ranked freshman in the country in that category... Russell also appeared in the national rankings tied for 83rd in tackles for a loss (11.0).... finished the 2009 season with 48 tackles as well as three blocked kicks. He had one interception and forced a fumble ... two of his total six sacks came against UNC... had two sacks in the same drive vs. Chattanooga... forced fumble in South Dakota State game... had eight stops at South Dakota State... totaled career-best nine tackles at Elon... also recorded 1.5 tackle for loss and blocked a PAT kick for his second blocked kick of the year... snatched Phoenix ball tipped by former Eagle Tavaris Williams for first career interception... blocked Citadel's extra point attempt late in fourth quarter.

FRESHMAN (2008): Earned the start at defensive tackle in the season-opener against preseason #1 Georgia... made an assisted tackle... suffered a knee injury in the game and missed the remainder of the season.

PREP: Registered 85 tackles, three sacks his senior year, earning First Team All-Region 8-AAAA honors for the second straight year... First Team All-Northeast Georgia... also forced one fumble, recovered two, had two pass break-ups, two blocked kicks, scored a touchdown and one safety... named AAAA Preseason Honorable Mention All-State by the Georgia HS Football Magazine... Preseason All-Northeast Georgia Terrific Ten by the Athens Banner-Herald... junior year won the Region 8-AAAA shot put title... won the Class 4A Heavyweight wrestling title, posting a 56-1 record... four year starter... led Madison County HS to consecutive state playoff appearances for the first time in 20 years and only the second time in school history... played for coach Randall Owens... lettered in football, track and wrestling.

PERSONAL: Born August 16, 1989... father of a son, Nolan, who will turn seven in October... No. 1 sports highlight was playing fullback in high school and rushing for two touchdowns against Clarke Central his senior year... his twin brother has been a major influence, "He always pushed me to be better."... son of Jody and Renee Russell… graduated from Georgia Southern in December 2012.