Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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people think I'm a laid‑back guy that just relies on his talent and doesn't re‑ ally love the game like he should. "I'm trying to show those people what football means to me." Stanley passed up his first chance to turn pro last offseason when he de‑ cided to return to Notre Dame for his senior season, a decision that paid off with an elevation of his draft stock. He was already in strong position fol‑ lowing his junior season as a likely first‑round pick. "I really think I improved as a leader and also as a run blocker as well," Stanley said. "It's something I really tried to focus on." KEIVARAE RUSSELL REVEALS HE PLAYED THROUGH THE 2015 SEASON WITH AN INJURY A season‑ending injury hasn't dented former Irish cornerback KeiV‑ arae Russell's confidence one bit. The Everett, Wash., native — who participated only in off‑field events at the NFL Combine due to the fractured tibia he suffered in late November — believes he is the smartest and most talented cornerback in this year's NFL Draft. "You see how I play when I'm healthy," Russell said when asked where he ranks at the position. "Come on now. You answer that question. As a whole, I don't think there's anyone better than me. Athletically, but also who understands the game and that's where I'm selling myself now. "My big selling point is I think I'm the smartest one here. A lot of my in‑ terviews so far, I think a lot of scouts have been impressed with my knowl‑ edge of the game. I give a lot of credit to my coaches at Notre Dame." Russell singled out defensive coor‑ dinator Brian VanGorder for preparing him with NFL schemes. After sitting out the 2014 season due to a suspension, Russell returned to Notre Dame. He said he incurred a stress fracture in fall camp prior to the 2015 season and played through it un‑ til eventually suffering a tibia fracture Nov. 21. "[It was] extremely important [to get back to Notre Dame after the sus‑ pension] and that's why I didn't sit out [with the injury]," he said. "There were games I probably should have sat out as far as the pain I was in with my tibia, but I told the guys, 'I already missed a year. I can't sit out.' "The reason I sat out [the final two games] was because I broke it. I would've played against Stanford. I would've played against Ohio State because I was mentally at a stage where I had to keep playing. I was already missing reps in practice and I couldn't miss games, too. I already missed a year. "For me it was important to come back and just make a statement that I'm someone who holds himself ac‑ countable for his actions, good or bad. I'm going to make it right no matter what it is." Russell is preparing for the Notre Dame's pro day, which will take place March 31. In the meantime, his focus is on "[making] sure I get all of my ex‑ plosiveness back and give the NFL 100 percent of me," something he did not feel he could do at the NFL Combine just three months after the injury. ✦