Position: Defensive end Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Name Ryan Russell | Weight: 275 lb (125 kg) | |
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Date of birth: (1992-01-17) January 17, 1992 (age 23) High school: Carrollton (TX) Creekview | ||
Ryan Russell (born January 17, 1992) is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football for Purdue University.
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Early years
Russell attended Creekview High School, where as a senior defensive lineman he registered 62 tackles (17 for loss) and 5 sacks, while being named second-team All-district.
He accepted a scholarship from Purdue University. His best season came as a freshman, playing as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense, registering 11 starts, 33 tackles (4.5 for loss), one sack, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumbles recovered. The next year he tallied 13 starts, 37 tackles and 4 sacks.
As a junior the team switched to a 3-4 defense in mid-October and he was moved to the Jack linebacker position, recording 11 starts, 35 tackles (5.5 for loss) and 2 sacks. In his last year he was moved back to defensive end, replacing the graduated Bruce Gaston. He had 44 tackles (6.5 for loss) and 3 sacks, finishing his career as a four-year starter with 149 tackles (25 for loss) and 10 sacks.
Dallas Cowboys
Russell was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (163th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft, after dropping because his physical skills didn't match his on-field production. In training camp he was tried at left defensive end and at the three-technique defensive tackle. During the season he appeared in one game and was declared inactive in 11. After being limited with an abdomen strain, he was placed on the injured reserve list on December 2, in order to make room for offensive tackle Chaz Green.