Garland QB Russell commits to Jayhawks

At the Texas High School Coaches Association convention in Fort Worth this week, Garland coach Jeff Jordan said something could happen quickly with his quarterback and a commitment to Kansas. That was a good foreshadowing with Seth Russell committing to the Jayhawks on Wednesday morning.

Russell (6-3, 190) got his first offer from Kansas in June and has been the focal point of Jayhawks coach Turner Gill, receivers coach David Beaty (a Garland alum) and Kansas offensive coordinator Chuck Long.

"I loved my visit there and it felt like family to me," Russell said. "It was an awesome feeling to be around the coaches. I am blessed to be a part of an organization like that."

Beaty graduated from Garland in 1989 and was a member of the Garland staff of former Owls coach Joe Martin along with Jordan as the Owls defeated Katy in the Astrodome for the 1999 Class 5A DII state championship. There were lots of dynamics factoring in Russell's decision. He has also been talking to Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman and his brother Caleb Russell is a junior Aggies linebacker.

Russell is a multi-sport athlete for Garland _ having played football, track and basketball. His athleticism has attracted major college interest. But after Russell had strong showings at A&M and Oklahoma camps, both schools wanted more evaluation from the upcoming season and neither Sherman nor OU coach Bob Stoops were even committing to offering more quarterbacks.

Russell has A&M ties in working with former A&M quarterback Kevin Murray to hone his skills. Murray does position work with a dozen of the state's top quarterbacks. TCU commit Kolby Listenbee of Arlington Bowie, Allen quarterback Alec Morris (a recent Wake Forest commit) and Fort Worth All Saints quarterback T.J. Millweard who has committed to Arizona State after an early commit to Virginia Tech.

Russell also has an offer as a linebacker from Wake Forest, but decided to make the pledge to Kansas.

Russell has A&M ties in working with former A&M quarterback Kevin Murray to hone his skills. Murray does position work with a dozen of the state's top quarterbacks. TCU commit Kolby Listenbee of Arlington Bowie, Allen quarterback Alec Morris (a recent Wake Forest commit) and Fort Worth All Saints quarterback T.J. Millweard who has committed to Arizona State after an early commit to Virginia Tech.