Russell arrived at Notre Dame as a running back, but he became a 13-game starter on one of the nation's
top defenses.
photo by bill panzica
knew a gaffe on defense would be
far worse than a rookie mistake on
offense. On defense, mistakes create
touchdowns. His plan was to try to
fly under the radar. He failed.
Russell made 58 tackles (fifth most
on the Irish) and two interceptions,
which earned him a spot on the Freshman All-America team. His natural
athleticism, smooth hips and a generous safety net provided by the rest of
the Notre Dame defense helped protect him from getting burned while he
figured things out.
