Tyler Russell

[Todd4State]

I read an article about Russell coming up with his coach and that is already working on learning formations and maybe later the coaches will let him learn some of the playbook.

Now, I'm not going to annoint as "the real deal" or whatever, but I really like that he took the initiative to go up to State and start learning the offense when the only thing he has to worry about is which hot chick to take to prom. I may be wrong, but I can't recall another QB recruit that we have EVER had (memory limited to 1991- today) that has ever done this. Usually I hear about Derrick Taite coming to media day in a purple pimp suit or something like that.

I've seen Russell a couple of times, and there is no doubt that he has talent, and size, and everything else, and we've had some guys that were talented like Conner, Madkin, and Taite physically. But none of those guys to my knowledge went out and tried to prepare themselves like Russell. It's intangibles like that that can make someone "the real deal".

 

[Todd4State]

I read an article about Russell coming up with his coach and that is already working on learning formations and maybe later the coaches will let him learn some of the playbook.

Now, I'm not going to annoint as "the real deal" or whatever, but I really like that he took the initiative to go up to State and start learning the offense when the only thing he has to worry about is which hot chick to take to prom. I may be wrong, but I can't recall another QB recruit that we have EVER had (memory limited to 1991- today) that has ever done this. Usually I hear about Derrick Taite coming to media day in a purple pimp suit or something like that.

I've seen Russell a couple of times, and there is no doubt that he has talent, and size, and everything else, and we've had some guys that were talented like Conner, Madkin, and Taite physically. But none of those guys to my knowledge went out and tried to prepare themselves like Russell. It's intangibles like that that can make someone "the real deal".

 

[dawgatUSM]

Russell has everything needed to be an All-American if he develops properly. Now that he has Mullen as a head coach rather than that other guy...

 

[patdog]

And maybe a long time before that. I really think he's going to be a player people will still be talking about 20 years from now.

 

[coach66]

the Meridian coach told Mullen that Tyler was the most unique kid he had ever coached and gave him some advice on how to recruit him. Tyler's mind isn't on the usual things a 17 year old boy has them on, he is about sports, family, and faith. From all accounts he has been raised extremely well and we are very lucky to have a kid with his character and potential.

 

[Agentdog]

No mention of homeboy TJ in this thread. I am disappointed.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

[No message]

 

[Indndawg]

so good his freshman and soph years, so horrible his sr. He was roundly booed at the Memphis state game in 1983 in favor of Don Smith.
I remember having a class w/Bond and he never showed and his wife took all his tests. Lost alot of goodwill on campus b/c of his laziness and failure to get better

 

[Toag Redloh]

I think he will do very well here.

 

[Toag Redloh]

Good at first, gets lazy, booed in favor of the young guy.

 

[gtowndawg]

nm

 

[BCash]

..I wonder what its like to have tons of potential and flush your career down the toilet by going to State?

 

[DowntownDawg]

...but as far as what I've seen of him playing and what he says in interviews, there couldn't be a better prospect when it comes to intangibles.

 

[lawdawg02]

...

 

[msudawg12]

I read an article about Russell coming up with his coach and that is already working on learning formations and maybe later the coaches will let him learn some of the playbook.

Now, I'm not going to annoint as "the real deal" or whatever, but I really like that he took the initiative to go up to State and start learning the offense when the only thing he has to worry about is which hot chick to take to prom. I may be wrong, but I can't recall another QB recruit that we have EVER had (memory limited to 1991- today) that has ever done this. Usually I hear about Derrick Taite coming to media day in a purple pimp suit or something like that.

I've seen Russell a couple of times, and there is no doubt that he has talent, and size, and everything else, and we've had some guys that were talented like Conner, Madkin, and Taite physically. But none of those guys to my knowledge went out and tried to prepare themselves like Russell. It's intangibles like that that can make someone "the real deal".

I actually saw him headed to prom last weekend, it's funny how you sometimes forget these kids are still young enough to do these things

 

[patdog]

and so-called "experts."</p>

 

[saltybulldog]

a high school teacher. I am not saying that Fant =Eli, but he had the chance.

And pat, I vividly remember hearing talk on some TV shows that were national that he was a surefire QB.

 

[Toag Redloh]

getaclueku

 

[thelaw]

its a bad idea to proclaim that TR will be an incredible player at this stage, however, I think Todd makes a very good point. When you have a player that is dedicated off the field, pushing himself, mixed with natural talent I think you have a good chance to be a stand-out player. Lots of guys have natural talent but don't capitalize on it, so its good to see that we have an incoming player that realizes that being a good qb isn't just about showing up for practice. Here's hoping...

 

[Maroon Eagle]

B.C. -- Before Croom.
C.E. -- Croom Era -- What's a quarterback?
A.D. -- Arrival of Dan -- Let's see what happens...

 

[GloryDawg]

so good his freshman and soph years, so horrible his sr. He was roundly booed at the Memphis state game in 1983 in favor of Don Smith.
I remember having a class w/Bond and he never showed and his wife took all his tests. Lost alot of goodwill on campus b/c of his laziness and failure to get better

But that Big SOB sure could take a hit.

 

[FlabLoser]

Todd Jordan was about as high as Tyler Russell. But Jordan was in an offense built to run the option. Right guy, wrong time.

John Bond, Don Smith - I was too young to know about their recruiting hype. I think Bond was a white Sleepy Robinson playing on a better team than Sleepy played on. Don Smith was a phenomenal QB - the best I've seen in a Bulldog uniform.

In the right system, Jordan may have been more productive than those guys, who knows.

But one things for sure - Tyler Russell is the right guy at the right place at the right time and with the right coach. Well except that we need about 180 more receivers.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

...the hype on him from what I recall was that he was considered the top option high school QB in the nation who played for the Valdosta powerhouse high school team. His signing was big big news especially since he was an option QB and Emory Bellard was our coach. That's why I had made the Russell-Bond comparison.

I wasn't as sold on Jordan as a lot of people were. I was at the Tupelo-Starkville game when he was a senior, and I came away more impressed with his punting skills than anything else.

 

[coach66]

and he used to hang out at our fraternity quite a bit. John always seemed like a big kid to me that might never grow up. He was quite possibly the worst passing quarterback in the modern era but the dude could run the option, just ask LSU, boy he had their number.

 

[99jc]

The men who make a living evaluating talent on the pro level think he is going to be very good. He has the arm and the smarts to be a very good in the pocket passer. And i believe in a couple years Mullen will surround him with dangerous receivers. One thing about it time will tell and if he doesn't succeed it won't be because of coaching.

 

[DawgOfTheWest]

He will be good but your only as good as the people around you. If Mullen can bring in some playmakers and some protection he will be the best State has ever had...IMHO.

 

[Todd4State]

Some people will say that is because "we're in in lil' ol Missuhssippii", but Ole Miss has had some good college QB's through the years- I'm not just talking about Eli and Snead, but even a guy like a Stewart Patridge who while he wasn't a star, he was solid his senior year and looked like he knew what the hell he was doing. And he was from Greenwood. Same thing for USM, yeah, they had Brett Favre, and he was special, but they also had guys like a Lee Roberts who could run the team effeciently.

On the other hand, our guys have either- stagnated, ie look the same their Sr. year as they did their Fr. year, were head cases like Taite, fell on their face their Sr. year like Madkin, had talent but absolutely no team surrounding them like Fant, or in most cases actually regressed like Carroll. Or we decided to run an offense that didn't fit our QB's like Todd Jordan and Omarr. At least Jackie designed the offense for Sleepy though, and it worked.

I think our single season record for TD passes is 16. Eli had about DOUBLE that during at least one season, and I think he almost or did double it two seasons while he was there. I know Eli was a good QB, but jeez, he shouldn't have double our record. That's ridiculous on our part.

And it's not just Ole Miss

I think every other school in the SEC has put at least 1 QB in the NFL AS A STARTER since 1992. I don't think we've had anyone in a camp other than maybe Todd Jordan- and that was as a punter.

We all know that Croom couldn't coach QB's, but neither could Jackie- hell, he almost got Marino drafted in the SECOND round at Pitt. That's a feat, and Rockey couldn't coach them either.

 

[rebfan04]

Isn't that another Rosebowlism?

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

...aside from the things you mention, was that Bellard was a horrible recruiter. Bond did a lot of his magic behind Bob Tyler's recruits. When Roman Grace, Kent Hull, Wayne Harris, Donald Ray King, Glen Young, Michael Haddix, etc. left, Bond had nobody to work with. Of course, his carousing sure didn't help.