Twan Russell
LB from Miami
6-1, 230 pounds
4.77 40 time
ESPN Reports:
Notes: Outstanding high-school track-and-field athlete and football player. Was a high-hurdler on Miami track team. Football redshirt in 1992. Top backup who started one game in both '93 and '94. Had 40 stops in '93 and 55 in '94. Starting outside linebacker on the strong side in '95, when he was in on 72 stops while starting 9-of-11 games. Team's top tackler with 115 tackles in '96 and was a first-team All-Big East selection. Did not run that well at the combine but was not 100 percent (sprained medial collateral ligament) and was to run again in March. Has run 4.62 in the past.

Positives: Good athlete. Sideline-to-sideline range. Very active. Will chase plays all over the field. Has the speed to run with a back in coverage Fine hustler and competitor. Improving skills and play-making ability. Starting to show some feel for his position.

Negatives: Undersized and can be overpowered at the point of attack. Can only play in defenses where the outside linebackers are either used on the edge or stacked, where they don't have to take on blockers straight-up. Is still not overly instinctive or reactive.

Summary: Should be able to contribute on special teams and as a nickel linebacker. Moves very well and will chase plays all over the field.

Sportsline reports:
Although undersized, Russell is a very athletic, active linebacker, with above-average quickness and speed. Last year, Russell was the team's leading tackler with 115 tackles and was a first-team All-Big East selection. Russell has the agility and athletic ability to cover backs out of the backfield and shows sideline-to-sideline range. He also exhibits good open-field acceleration with the ability to quickly close on the ball carrier, and has a knack for making plays. However, he lacks size and bulk, has difficulty taking on and shedding blocks near the line of scrimmage and tends to get bounced around in a crowd. And, as demonstrated on several occasions last season, despite his good agility, he does not always do a good job in coverage. Thus, while he is a fine athlete, if he is to succeed on the next level he will need to become a more consistent all-around performer.