JA MARCUS RUSSELL
Quarterback
Louisiana State University Tigers
#4
6:05.4-258
Mobile, Alabama
Williamson High School
OVERVIEW
Much like the Auburn staff did with Jason Campbell several years ago, the LSU coaches patiently
waited for Russell to develop. That patience paid off in 2005, as Russell wrested the starting
reigns away from Matt Flynn. Most experts now regard JaMarcus as the most physically gifted
quarterback to ever wear a Louisiana State uniform.
The talented junior has what many feel is the strongest arm in college football. He can throw the
ball the length of the field and put on an impressive performance prior to the 2006 Sugar Bowl,
when he sat down on the ground and threw the pigskin 40 yards down field. Under the guidance
of offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, JaMarcus developed a keen understanding and knowledge
in how to manage the clock. He went on to compile a 25-4 record as a starter, the third-best
record in school history.
Russell and his favorite target, receiver Dwayne Bowe, is the most prolific pass-catch scoring
tandem in school history, as the duo connected on 23 touchdowns during their career. JaMarcus
leaves LSU as the school’s second-ranked passer with a 61.86 pass completion percentage and
52 touchdown tosses. He is just the third player in Tiger annals to throw for over 6,000 yards in a
career and the first to lead the team to at least ten victories in consecutive seasons. He also
proved to be a heroic passer, as he rallied the team late in the fourth quarter or during overtime to
eight victories during his 36 games in an LSU uniform.
JaMarcus was regarded as one of the nation's top-rated quarterbacks during his time at
Williamson High School. He was a consensus top five national pro-style quarterback by every
major recruiting publication and named to the prestigious Parade All-American team. In 2002, he
was rated the fourth-best quarterback prospect in the country by College Football News. He was
also named Alabama's Mr. Football and Super Prep Dixie Offensive Player of the Year in 2002.
Russell was a member of Super Prep’s All-American team, FSN South's Countdown to Signing
Day "All-South" first-team, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 and the Orlando
Sentinel’s All-Southern teams. The all-time leading passer in Alabama history, JaMarcus threw
for 10,744 yards during his career, eclipsing the state record set by former Alabama and current
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle.
The two-time Class 5A All-State selection also rewrote the state record books with 84 touchdown
passes. He connected on 219-of-372 passes (58.9%) for 3,332 yards and 22 touchdowns as a
senior, adding 400 yards and five scores rushing 2002. He also passed for 1,850 yards and 17
touchdowns as a junior. Russell also excelled on the school’s basketball team as a small forward,
averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game as a junior.
Russell enrolled at Louisiana State in 2003, spending the season performing on the scout team.
He played in 11 games, sharing quarterback duties with Marcus Randall in 2004, earning five
starting assignments. He completed 73-of-144 passes (50.7%) for 1,053 yards, nine touchdowns
and four interceptions. But, despite his 4.7 speed, he was sacked 13 times and lost 41 yards on
26 carries, finishing with 1,012 yards in total offense.
JaMarcus became the full-time starter for the Tigers in 2005, leading the team to a 10-2 record in
their first twelve games. He hit on 188-of-311 attempts (60.5%) for 2,443 yards, 15 touchdowns
and nine interceptions. He scored twice on 61 carries, but was held to minus 22 yards, as he was
sacked 21 times and turned the ball over four times on fumbles.
Russell changed his uniform to #2 in 2006, after wearing #4 during his first two seasons. The first-
team All-Southeastern Conference choice led the Tigers to an 11-3 record in his final campaign.
He gained 3,129 yards with 28 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, as he connected on 232-
of-342 throws (67.8%). JaMarcus added 142 yards and a score on 52 carries, amassing 3,271
yards in total offense.
In 36 games at Louisiana State, Russell started 30 contests. He threw for 6,625 yards and 52
touchdowns and 21 interceptions, as he completed 493-of-797 throws (61.9%). He rushed 139
times for 79 yards (0.6 avg) and four scores while also recording four solo tackles. On 936 plays,
JaMarcus piled up 6,704 yards in total offense, an average of 186.22 yards per game.
CAREER NOTES
Since the 2000 season, the Tigers have rallied in the fourth quarter or in overtime to win 15
games. Russell produced eight of those comebacks, doing so vs. Oregon State in 2004 (scored
TD with 1:05 left to force OT W, 22-21 OT); vs. Mississippi (scored TD with 10:51 left W, 27-24),
Arizona State (scored TD with 1:13 left W, 35-31), Florida (scored TD with 12:35 left W, 21-14),
Auburn (scored FG with 1:40 left to force OT W, 20-17) and Alabama (scored TD on 3rd down in
OT W, 16-13) in 2005; and vs. Tennessee (scored TD with 9 seconds left W, 28-21) and
Mississippi (scored TD with 14 seconds left to force OT W, 23-20) in 2006...Russell’s 6,625 yards
passing rank third on the school’s career-record list behind Tommy Hodson (9,115 yards; 1986-
89) and Jeff Wickersham (6,921; 1982-85)... His 493 pass completions rank third in school
annals, topped by Hodson (674) and Wickersham (587)...Russell’s 797 pass attempts placed him
fourth in school history behind Hodson (1,163), Wickersham (1,005) and Jamie Howard (934,
1992-95)...His pass completion percentage of 61.9 was just shy of the LSU all-time record of
62.0% by Alan Risher (1980-82)...JaMarcus threw for 52 touchdowns during his career, topped
only by Tommy Hodson’s 69 on the school career-record list...Averaged 184.03 yards per game
passing during his career, ranking behind Hodson (203.1), Josh Booty (197.5 ypg, 1999-2000)
and Herb Tyler (184.8 ypg, 1995-98) in LSU annals...The pitch-&-catch combination of JaMarcus
Russell-to-Dwayne Bowe broke the school record for scoring tandems in a career, as the pair
hooked up for 23 touchdowns to move past Tommy Hodson and Wendell Davis (21) for first place
on the all-time LSU list...With a 25-4 overall mark as the Tigers’ starting quarterback, Russell
moved into a third-place tie with Warren Rabb (25-7, 1957-59) for most victories by a signal
caller. Tommy Hodson (1986-89) holds the school record by compiling a 31-14-1 mark during his
career as a starter and Herb Tyler (1995-98) compiled a 27-11 record as a starter...Russell
became only the second player in school history to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season (3,129
in 2006), joining Rohan Davey (3,347 yards in 2001)...His 2,443 yards passing in 2005 rank sixth
on the Tigers’ season-record chart...His 232 pass completions in 2006 set an LSU season-
record, topping the previous mark of 229 by Matt Mauck (2003)...His 342 pass attempts in 2006
rank fourth in school history behind Rohan Davey (367 in 2001), Matt Mauck (358 in 2003) and
Jeff Wickersham (346 in 1985)...Russell’s pass completion percentage of 67.8 in 2006 topped
the old LSU season-record of 65.2% by Herb Tyler (1995) and that completion percentage ranks
second in SEC season annals behind Tim Couch of Kentucky (72.3% on 400-of-553 attempts in
1998...His 28 touchdown passes in 2006 tied the school season-record that was first set by Matt
Mauck (2003)...Russell’s average of 240.69 yards per game passing in 2006 rank second on the
school’s season-record list, surpassed only by Rohan Davey (279.2 ypg, 2001).
2006 SEASON
All-American Dream Team third-team choice by The NFL Draft Report...Semi-finalist for the
Davey O’Brien Award...Joined Tommy Hodson (1987) as the only quarterbacks in LSU history to
be named first-team All-South-eastern Conference by the Associated Press and the league’s
coaches in the same season...Changed uniform numbers from #4 to #2, the same number he
wore during his stellar high school career...Started every game, becoming the first player in
school history to guide the team to 10 or more victories in consecutive seasons (11-2 in 2006, 10-
2 in 2005)...Ranked fourth in the nation and led the SEC with a 167.03 passing efficiency
rating...Ranked 15th nationally and second in the conference with an average of 251.62 yards
per game in total offense...Also finished second in the SEC in total passing yards and average
passing yards per game (240.69)...Set school season-records by completing 232-of-342 passes
(67.8%), good for 3,129 yards, 28 touchdowns and only eight interceptions...Rushed 52 times for
142 yards (2.7 avg) and a score...Gained 3,271 yards in total offense...Turned the ball over four
times on a career-high nine fumbles and was sacked 15 times for losses totaling 126 yards...131
of his pass completions resulted in first downs, as he helped the team convert 64-of-133 third-
down plays during drives that he engineered...48 of his completions were for 20 yards or longer,
but he also had 30 of his pass attempts deflected by the opposition...Earned SEC Player of the
Week honors vs. Mississippi State, Kentucky and Tennessee...Threw for over 300 yards in the
Mississippi State and Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl) games.
2005 SEASON
Russell was selected SEC Player of the Year by the Columbus Touchdown Club...He added SEC
Academic Honor Roll recognition and was named SEC Player of the Week vs. Vanderbilt...
JaMarcus started the first twelve games of the season, becoming the third player in school history
to win ten games (10-2) in a campaign...He hit on 188-of-311 passes (60.5%) for 2,443 yards, 15
touchdowns and nine interceptions, but lost 22 yards on 61 carries, as he was sacked 21 times
for losses totaling 214 yards... All four of his fumbles were recovered by the opposition...Also had
27 of his pass attempts deflected...Threw at least one touchdown in nine consecutive games
before that streak was stopped in the SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia...Suffered a left
shoulder separation and right wrist ligament damage in that Georgia game, undergoing wrist
surgery that forced him to miss the Peach Bowl clash vs. Miami.
2004 SEASON
Shared quarterback duties with Marcus Randall, starting vs. Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama,
Mississippi and Arkansas...Completed 73-of-144 passes (50.7%) for 1,053 yards, nine
touchdowns and four interceptions...Scored once on 26 carries, but was sacked 13 times for
losses totaling 109 yards...Finished with 1,012 yards in total offense.
2003 SEASON
Enrolled at Louisiana State, redshirting while performing on the scout team.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.83 in the 40-yard dash...335-pound bench press...515-pound squat...31-inch vertical jump...34
1/2-inch arm length...9 1/2-inch hands...Right-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Williamson (Mobile, Ala.) High School, playing football for head coach Bobby
Parrish...Regarded as one of the nation's top-rated quarterbacks...Consensus top five national
pro-style quarterback by every major recruiting publication and named to the prestigious Parade
All-American team...In 2002, he was rated the fourth-best quarterback prospect in the country by
College Football News...Named Alabama's Mr. Football and Super Prep Dixie Offensive Player
of the Year in 2002...Member of Super Prep’s All-American team, FSN South's Countdown to
Signing Day "All-South" first-team, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 and the
Orlando Sentinel’s All-Southern teams...The all-time leading passer in Alabama history,
JaMarcus threw for 10,744 yards during his career, eclipsing the state record set by former
Alabama and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle...The two-time Class 5A All-
State selection also rewrote the state record books with 84 touchdown passes...Connected on
219-of-372 passes (58.9%) for 3,332 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, adding 400 yards
and five scores rushing 2002...Passed for 1,850 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior... Also
excelled on the school’s basketball team as a small forward, averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds
and four assists per game as a junior.
PERSONAL
General Studies major...Son of Zina Russell-Anderson and Bobby Lloyd...Made national news in
2006 after sharing his apartment with legendary musician Fats Domino in the days following
Hurricane Katrina...Actually housed over a dozen family and friends for a week following the
storm...Spent part of the 2006 off-season serving as a counselor at the Manning Passing
Academy, working alongside Peyton and Eli Manning each day...Born 8/09/85 in Mobile,
Alabama.
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