Where Is Jamarcus Russell Now?

Publish date: 2024-07-24

JaMarcus Trenell Russell (born August 9, 1985) is a former American football quarterback who spent three seasons with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League (NFL). After a stellar career at LSU, where JaMarcus was named the 2007 Sugar Bowl MVP, he was taken first overall by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Russell incited controversy after being drafted by Oakland by refusing to sign a contract until the second week of the 2007 season. His time with the Raiders was distinguished by inconsistency and criticism about his work ethic, which led to his release in 2010. JaMarcus is regarded as one of the NFL’s biggest failures due to his failure to live up to the expectations of being the first selection and the short length of his career.

Russell grew up in Mobile, Alabama, and graduated from Lillie B. Williamson High School. Russell started and never missed a football game during his four years under head coach Bobby Parrish. Russell led Williamson to the state title game as a freshman, completing 180 of 324 passes for 2,683 yards and 20 touchdowns. Russell had grown to six-foot-three and 185 pounds by the following season, had earned his first recruiting letters and was getting more comfortable with the playbook. Russell led the club to the playoffs as a sophomore, passing for 2,616 yards and 20 touchdowns.