:Fred Russell (American football)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1980)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Fred Russell
|position=Running back
|number=2
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1980|09|14}}
|birth_place = Wayne, Michigan, U.S.
|draftyear=
|draftround=
|draftpick=
|high_school=Romulus (MI)
|college=Iowa
|teams=
- Miami Dolphins (2004)*
- Chicago Bears (2004–2005)*
- St. Louis Rams (2006)*
- Saskatchewan Roughriders (2007)
|highlights =
- First-team All-Big Ten (2002)
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2003)
}}
Fred Russell (born September 14, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He twice rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection in 2002 and voted the most valuable player in the 2004 Outback Bowl.
High school
Russell played high school football at Romulus High School in Romulus, Michigan. He rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 85 touchdowns.{{Cite news |date=October 12, 2002 |title=Russell at home in backfield for the Hawkeyes |page=2W |work=Lansing State Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31421744/russell_at_home_in_backfield_for_the/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
Iowa
Russell was the starting running back for the 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes football team that tied for the Big Ten Conference championship, played in the Orange Bowl, and was ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll. Russell rushed for 1,264 yards and nine touchdowns on 220 carries during the 2002 season. At the end of the season, Russell was selected by Big Ten coaches as a first-team running back on the 2002 All-Big Ten Conference football team.{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2002 |title=All Big Ten |page=6C |work=Des Moines Register |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31421761/all_big_ten/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 2003, Russell was again the starting running back for an Iowa team that compiled a 10–3 record, defeated Florida in the Outback Bowl, and was ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll. Russell rushed for 1,355 yards and seven touchdowns on 282 carries during the 2003 season.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2019 |title=Fred Russell |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/fred-russell-1.html |website=SR/College Football |publisher=Sports Reference LLC}} He was selected by both the coaches and media a second-team running back on the 2003 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
In the 2004 Outback Bowl, Russell's final game for Iowa, he rushed for 150 yards, scored a touchdown, and was named the game's most valuable player in a 37–17 victory over Florida. He was also named the most valuable player in the 2004 Hula Bowl.{{Cite news |date=April 20, 2004 |title=Hawkeye Answer Man |pages=1B, 3B |work=Iowa City Press-Citizen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31421878/hawkeye_answer_man/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
At the end of his college career, and despite receiving significant playing time in only two seasons, Russell ranked third on the Iowa career rushing list.{{Cite news |date=April 23, 2004 |title=Russell hopes for NFL Draft hustle and bustle |page=B7 |work=The Globe Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31421897/russell_hopes_for_nfl_draft_hustle_and/ |via=Newspapers.com}} He also had two of the top five single-season rushing totals in Iowa history.{{Cite news |date=January 2, 2004 |title=Russell gets final romp |page=6C |work=The Des Moines Register |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31421809/russell_gets_final_romp/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
Professional football
In 2004, Russell was part of the St. Louis Rams' practice squad.{{Cite web |title=Fred Russell NFL profile |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/fredrussell/2505806/profile |website=NFL.com |accessdate=May 10, 2019}} In 2007, Russell signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. He was released on July 3, 2007.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Fred}}
Category:People from Romulus, Michigan
Category:Players of American football from Wayne County, Michigan
Category:American football running backs
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Players of Canadian football from Michigan
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Chicago Bears players