Brandon Russell

Position:
Tailback
Height:
5-11
Weight:
185
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Decatur, Ga.
High School:
Marist

2002: Slowed some while still recovering from a broken wrist in 2001 • Still played in all 12 games on special teams and as one of the team’s top five receivers • Finished the season with seven catches for 67 yards, an average of 9.6 yards per catch • Opened the season with three receptions for 21 yards against Miami • Had one catch for three yards the following week at Syracuse • Made one catch for eight yards vs. Maryland • Grabbed two balls for 35 yards, including a season-long 19-yard reception • Also made three tackles on special teams.

2001 • Sophomore Season
In his first year as a wide receiver had 19 catches for 235 yards (12.4 average) and scored a touchdown in the Oklahoma game • Caught at least one pass in 10 of the 11 regular-season games in which he played • Missed the Texas game with a mild knee sprain • Had at least two receptions in seven games • Had a season-high three catches at Maryland and vs. Wake Forest • Had a season-high 36-yard catch-and-run against Georgia Tech on a screen pass • Had one carry for two yards against Clemson • Played with an injured wrist in the Peach Bowl, but did not have a catch • Also made six tackles on special teams, including two against ECU and two vs. Wake Forest.

2000 • Freshman Season
Became the first Tar Heel freshman to start the first game of the season at tailback since Charlie Justice in 1946 • Started the first eight games of the season and played in every contest at tailback • Led the team with 508 rushing yards on 145 carries and had three rushing touchdowns • Caught 11 passes for 71 yards • Had 10 carries for 25 yards vs. Tulsa in his first collegiate contest • Rushed for a season-high 96 yards on 28 carries vs. NC State • Scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 2-yard run in the first half against the Wolfpack • His 28 carries against NCSU were the most by a UNC tailback since 1997 • Had 17 carries for 79 yards and two catches for 26 yards in the win over Marshall • Had at least 10 carries in eight games • Averaged 46.2 yards per game and 3.5 per carry • Had 74 yards on nine attempts, including a season-long 26-yard run at Duke • Also returned six punts for 29 yards • Five of those returns came at Pittsburgh • Had a season-long 16-yard punt return against the Panthers.

Carolina Baseball - 2001 Season
Played in 44 games and started 14 as an outfielder for the Tar Heels • Hit .206 with 13 hits in 63 at bats • Scored 13 runs, had three doubles and 10 runs batted in • Was successful on 2 of 3 stolen base attempts • Had 36 put outs, two assists and did not make an error • In a doubleheader at NC State, he was a combined 5 for 10 with four runs scored and three RBI.

Marist High School
Named one of the school’s 10 Most Outstanding Seniors by the faculty • Played for Coach Alan Chadwick • Led Marist to a 13-1 record • Marist advanced to the semifinals of the state 3-A playoffs • Team was four-time Region 6AAA champions and posted a four-year record of 51-4 • Made the state semifinals three times • Played running back, defensive back and linebacker • Team captain • Averaged 9.98 yards per carry as a senior when he rushed for 1,697 yards and 29 touchdowns • Three-season rushing totals 353 carries for 3,207 yards and 52 touchdowns • Gained a school-record 303 yards in a game as a senior • Caught five touchdown passes in his career • Averaged 23.4 yards per reception • Blocked eight kicks on special teams • Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class AAA all-state selection in 1999 and an honorable mention all-state pick in 1998 • Atlanta J-C Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year in 1999 • Atlanta J-C DeKalb County Offensive Player of the Year in 1999 and All-DeKalb County in 1998 and 1999 • Atlanta Touchdown Club Metro Atlanta Running Back of the Year in 1999 • Recipient of the Coca-Cola Academic and Athletic Golden Helmet Award • Member of the National Honor Society • PrepStar and Tom Lemming All-America • Honorable Mention All-America by USA Today • As a senior outfielder, he hit .483 with 11 home runs and 23 stolen bases and had a .585 on-base percentage • Was selected for the Georgia All-Star Team • Selected by the Florida Marlins for the Major League Showcase in the summer of 1999.

Personal
Born Brandon Harris Russell on Nov. 4, 1981 in Atlanta, Ga. • Majoring in management • Favorite movie is Scarface • Favorite NFL team as a kid was the Oakland Raiders • Favorite former Tar Heel is Leon Johnson • Best friend on another team is Kelley Rhino from Georgia Tech • His Dad, Kevin, played football with the Philadelphia Eagles • Earliest football memory was scoring four touchdowns in his first football game in eighth grade.