Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
UNDER THE DOME KeiVarae Russell Returns To Fold Six words from Notre Dame cornerback KeiVarae Russell, a starter from 2012-13, on Instagram May 29 instantly helped make the Fighting Irish a better team in 2015: #ThankYouNotreDame I'm back. Russell joined teammates for their six-week summer school session at Notre Dame that began June 15. Considered an All-America candidate in 2014 and a potential high round NFL draft pick, he instead found himself in the midst of an academic probe last August with three other teammates, and a fourth who would return in the latter part of the year. After two months of investigations and appeals, a two-semester suspension (fall 2014 and spring 2015) was handed down to Russell. In an interview this spring with SI.com's Pete Thamel, Russell revealed that the investigation resulted from be- coming "lazy" and "taking the easy way out." However, he also told Thamel: "I didn't cheat on a test. I didn't pay people to do my homework." Since the suspension, the Everett, Wash., native who majors in marketing has lived with his grandfather in his hometown, been a full-time student at Everett Com- munity College, worked as an intern for a real estate company and devotedly worked out at N-S Performance. Despite not playing last season, Russell joins senior left tackle Ronnie Stanley and junior linebacker Jaylon Smith with the most career starts (26) among Irish players on the 2015 roster. Smith and Stanley are classified as future potential first-round picks. Russell enrolled as a slot/running back prospect in 2012, but the graduation of 2011 starting corners Robert Blanton and Gary Gray, plus a season ending injury in Au- gust to projected starting corner Lo Wood, led to Russell shifting to the depleted position. He started all 13 games for the 12-1 Irish, recording 58 tackles and two intercep- tions en route to earning Freshman All-America honors from both the Football Writers Association of America and CBSSports.com. A year later, Russell started all 13 games again, record- ing 51 tackles, an interception and eight passes broken up. Russell is expected to combine with junior Cole Luke to give Notre Dame one of the better corner tan- dems in the nation. Luke started all 13 games last season and paced the defense in passes broken up (11) while tying for the most interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (2). He also finished sixth in tackles with 48. — Lou Somogyi Russell's 26 career starts are tied with senior left tackle Ronnie Stanley and junior linebacker Jaylon Smith for the team lead. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS