Just hours before Notre Dame Media Day began, the school informed the media which 10 specific players would be appearing and conversing with the media. When we saw KeiVarae Russell listed as one of those ten players, we knew that his NCAA eligibility was reinstated. Russell was suspended and missed all of 2014, but he promised he would return to South Bend and finish school.
KeiVarae had already been practicing this summer and Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly had been very positive about the prospects of Russell’s return in recent media opportunities. . Today however he made it official. Working the announcement in when answering a general question about the defense overall.
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“We felt like if we could solidify the back end of our defense to start, so beginning with the back first, getting KeiVarae Russell back.
“By the way, KeiVarae was fully cleared by the NCAA and reinstated, so he is back with us. Like how I dropped that one in there? Pretty cool, huh?”
Kelly then went on to describe his defense, in a typical college football media day fashion.
“So starting from the back forward, getting KeiVarae back and really feeling like if we could solidify the safety position with Max and Elijah, that we were playing a lot of young guys up front, and they were getting some valuable experience. Add Joe Schmidt back into the mix, we felt really good about where we could be defensively if we could solidify the back end first.”
But KeiVarae Russell was the story of the day. He’s obviously a very fast talking guy with a loud voice and endless energy. His personality truly wins the press conference.
Said Kelly earlier this week: “He has a presence. He communicates loudly. I love that. And it’s very positive, extremely positive.”
“He’s not a guy that’s running around screaming at somebody. When he says something, there is a very positive note to it. Now he’s loud, extremely loud. And with that loudness sometimes you would think, well, it’s going to be on the other end of that loud scheme of things. It’s not. It’s extremely positive. He brings a positive energy and that is something that you really need.”
During the group interview interview sessions, KeiVarae Russell’s loud and big personality was on display, and he certainly won over the media contingent that came to his table. I asked him what his feelings were when he first found out- relief? Joy?
“Relief for sure,” he said.
“I kind of had a feeling it was going to go that way, but I still had that ‘what if you didn’t?’ So it’s exciting to have that joy and relief to have that off your shoulder so now I can just focus on football.”
Before the suspension, Russell was projected by some to be the top cornerback in his draft class. Now, with a year off, his draft stock has to be completely re-evaluated. But as Kelly put it:
“All you need is one good fall, you’re at Notre Dame, it’s an On-Broadway play.”
“If you play good for one fall everyone’s gonna see you.”
Kelly then said that one good autumn at ND equals plenty of suitors for the professional ranks.
“I’m really not worried about that, Coming through what I went through I got to play well here,” Russell said.
“I’m not worried about the NFL, just focused on playing with these guys. I’m literally focused on this year, trying to win something special. If I got to play the best receiver I’ll do what I got to do,” he continued.
With all the future NFL talent on this roster, and all the experience coming back, this is really the year that Brian Kelly and Notre Dame should return to national relevance; similar to where they were in 2012. Getting KeiVarae Russell, arguably the best corner in the nation, back into the mix now raises the expectations even higher. It’s playoff or bust in 2015.
Notre Dame Season Preview Series
Paul M. Banks of The Sports Bank/RedEye and Todd Burlage of Blue and Gold Illustrated/The Fan Indiana recapping Notre Dame Media Day on Maximus and the Bartender
Will Fuller is ND’s best chance at the Heisman
KeiVarae Russell returns; wins Media Day
Malik Zaire takes issue with usage of the term “dual threat”
Comprehensive Notre Dame Season Preview
2015 Notre Dame football is playoff or bust
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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