Published: 11:52 PM, Fri Jul 09, 2010
Hoke County's Russell commits to UNC
Former Westover and current Hoke County RB/LB Christian Russell commits to North Carolina.
UNC BOUND
Hoke County's Christian Russell made an oral commitment to North Carolina on Thursday. Here's a quick look at Russell's statistics for his first three seasons of varsity football at Westover High School.
Freshman
Finished ninth in Cumberland County with 98 tackles. Also had three interceptions.
Sophomore
Eighth in Cumberland County with 120 tackles. Made two interceptions. Rushed 66 times for 352 yards and two touchdowns, while catching eight passes for 116 yards and three more scores.
Junior
Seventh in Cumberland County with 136 tackles. Ranked third in rushing with 1,728 yards and 23 touchdowns on 237 carries.
his time there will be no second thoughts for Christian Russell.
The Hoke County running back-linebacker, who starred at Westover High School last year, gave an oral commitment to the University of North Carolina on Thursday evening. The decision came more than nine months after Russell first committed to the Tar Heels before backing out of the pledge at the advice of coach Milton Butts.
"This is his final decision,'' said Butts, who left Westover for the Hoke County job this summer. "He's always liked Carolina, and I didn't have a problem with that. I just wanted to make sure he was doing it for the right reasons and not just jumping at the first thing that came along.''
Butts has coached a number of major-college prospects during his career, including Joey Evans, Aaron Curry and DeMarcus "Tank'' Tyler. He knew Russell would be highly recruited and wanted him to have a clearer picture of his options.
Those options have increased significantly since the October commitment. Russell's scholarship offer list has climbed to "25 or 30,'' according to Butts. Among those schools were Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and UCLA.
Butts said Russell was recruited with the same intensity as former E.E. Smith defensive lineman Tyler, who is now playing for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
"If you draw up a football player, you'd draw up Christian,'' he said. "He's very aggressive, very strong and fast. He thinks out there on the field. And he's a fine young man. He's just got everything going for him right now.''
Russell did give other schools consideration. This summer he took unofficial visits to Alabama, Duke, N.C. State, UCLA and Wake Forest to see what those schools had to offer.
But in the end Russell remained enamored with North Carolina.
"They are the ones who have been with me from the start,'' Russell said Friday.
"They have been coming at me the most aggressive, contacting me, writing me letters and inviting me up for visits. My mom and I just fell in love with the school. That's where I feel like I can get a great education and become a good football player.''
Russell has been recruited to play linebacker by the Tar Heels. He was named to The Fayetteville Observer's All-Cape Fear region team at that position as a junior at Westover when he made 136 tackles and four interceptions.
Scout.com ranks Russell the nation's No. 29 outside linebacker prospect, while Rivals.com has him at No. 25 for inside linebackers.
UNC will be graduating two key members of its linebacker corps after the 2010 season in Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant.
"I've watched them (UNC) play defense and their style really caught my attention,'' Russell said. "Their linebackers are aggressive, and play fast and intense. That's how I play. I'm a very intense player who plays with passion. I play my heart out until the end of the game.''
Russell is the fourth player to give UNC a commitment in the last week. Since the start of July, the Tar Heels have landed pledges from Madison, Ala., defensive back Kameron Jackson, Washington, D.C., offensive lineman Jamar Lewter, and Salisbury defensive back Darien Rankin.
The Tar Heels now have 12 commitments overall for the Class of 2011.
Russell is the third Cape Fear region player from the Class of 2011 to make an oral commitment to a major program. He follows Jack Britt tight end Eric MacLain and defensive lineman Joe Gore of East Columbus, both of whom committed to Clemson.
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.