The University of Arkansas' need at linebacker is well known, and the Hogs hope to win over linebacker target Chris Russell during his official visit to Fayetteville this weekend.
Russell, 6-1, 230 pounds, of Dyersburg, Tenn., received scholarship offers from Memphis and Georgia Tech in June, and he committed to the Tigers the same month. He later reopened his recruiting in the fall.
When Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis offered him on June 21, the Hogs were the third school and first SEC program to do so. Chavis and safeties coach Ron Cooper were in Dyersburg on Tuesday to visit with Russell.
"Coach Chavis was the first one that came in and offered him," Dyersburg Coach Bart Stowe said. "Coach Chavis has done a great job during all of this recruiting and staying with Chris. Being here and coming and seeing him as much as possible that he's allowed to. Coach Chavis is a hall of famer It doesn't get much better that coach Chavis."
Stowe said Russell showed his speed of 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash at camps at Memphis and Tennessee. After Arkansas, the offers were slow to come until later during Russell's senior season.
"West Tennessee and especially up here in northwest Tennessee we don't get a lot of traffic," Stowe said. "We really don't. That has something to do with it right there, but the young man vastly improved from his junior to senior year. That's one of the things college coaches have been saying looking at his junior tape and compared to his senior tape. He's a different animal."
Russell recorded 112 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback pressures, 11 quarterback knockdowns, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles and 2 recovered fumbles while leading the Trojans to the Class 4A quarterfinals as a senior.
Offensively, he had 58 carries for 776 yards, 16 touchdowns and 5 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. Russell didn't allow outside distractions deter him during the season.
"He really wanted to concentrate on this year and that's what he did," Stowe said.
Auburn and Tennessee extended offers in November, while Texas A&M offered him Dec. 1. Russell was a Mr. Tennessee finalist and was named to the Coaches Association and Sports Writers' all-state teams along being selected the Region 7 Class 4A Player of the Year.
"He only got one offer coming out of camp this past summer," Stowe said. "As the season went the young man kept on leading us and putting out great film. I was sending film and I've been calling schools and calling coaches and talking to them and getting his name out there as much as possible. The rest is kind of history."
He earned defensive MVP honors at the Toyota East vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic on Dec. 7.
"That's the big game for us in Tennessee," Stowe said.
Russell officially visited Texas A&M on Jan.11-13 and has plans to visit Tennessee on Feb. 1-3. Should he decide to be a Razorback, he will likely see some familiar faces.
"We have some students from Dyersburg that's going to Arkansas for school," Stowe said. "One of Chris' friends that sits in his class is going there, too. So all that plays a part in it."
Despite the accolades and attention from major colleges, Russell has remained level-headed and a dream to coach, Stowe said.
"That's the great thing about Chris, he's such a humble young man," Stowe said. "You wouldn't know it that he has these offers from all these schools coming in. He's just himself and hasn't changed one bit. You talk to all the teachers, you talk to all the administrators and the students and everybody loves Chris."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/25/2019