Pro-bound Russell: “Mama, quit your job.”

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, January 12, 2007  |  Comments( 6 )

LSU Tigers
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If some mad scientist were to build an NFL quarterback from spare human parts, he would probably look a lot like JaMarcus Russell.

The LSU junior has more than enough altitude (6-foot-6) to see over the tallest defenders. His arm is so strong that he can reportedly throw a football through the goal posts from the 50-yard line -- on his knees. He's more moose than gazelle, but he's not afraid to run when he has to.

Moreover, says outgoing Tiger offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher: "What people don't realize about JaMarcus, maybe because he's so big and shy, is that he is very smart."

Evidently. Asked what team he wanted to play for in the NFL next season, Russell smiled and said: "Whoever picks first and pays the most. I told mama that in the next couple of months, she should quit her job."

Leadership? Russell led his team to a school-record eight fourth-quarter comebacks during his career.

"If they (the pros) watch those (game-winning) drives," said LSU head coach Les Miles, "if they just cut the film and watch those drives, they will make him the first player chosen."

Performance in big games? Russell totally outplayed Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn -- the odds-on favorite as 2007's No. 1 pro pick -- in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns as LSU romped, 41-14.

With his size and calm demeanor, Russell has an aura about him that translates to his teammates. He never seemed to lose his poise in steering the Tigers through an 11-2 season, finishing with a school-record 67 percent completion rate and 28 touchdown passes.

Last spring, no one seemed quite sure that Russell would be the Tiger starter for 2007. Now, his exit will leave a huge hole in the offense. It didn't help that rumors have begun circulating around sophomore backup Ryan Perrilloux that he was a "person of interest" in a federal investigation. An investigation of what, nobody seems to know.

If rising senior Matt Flynn quarterbacks the team, LSU may become a lot more run oriented under whoever succeeds Fisher (the new offensive coordinator at Florida State). The Tigers have some good backs returning in Keiland Williams, Charles Scott and Justin Vincent, and next year's Bayou Bengals may bear the main stamp of Williams, a sophomore All-America candidate.

Meanwhile, it's hard to find an NFL quarterback to whom to compare Russell. He's a slightly larger Daunte Culpepper or much larger Donovan McNabb, perhaps. A Vince Young with less foot speed and better throwing mechanics.

Russell had debated whether not to turn pro. In the final analysis, he said: "The way things were going, I decided I would make that jump."

The first four teams that will pick in the draft -- Oakland, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Cleveland -- are all somewhat unsettled at quarterback. Russell would probably have a good shot at starting at any of those places, although it would probably be prudent to let him sit for awhile and learn.

The big guy showed up 30 minutes late for the press conference to announce his decision, then apologized profusely.

But as with his career at LSU, better late than never.

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