2011 LB Russell is gaining offers

Offers are mounting for Fayetteville (N.C.) Westover Senior junior linebacker Christian Russell. After committing early to North Carolina, the 6-foot-1, 208-pounder has stepped away from a decision and is mulling his options.

"I recently got an offer from South Carolina," he said. "I also have offers from North Carolina, NC State and Georgia. I'm getting a lot of mail too from Alabama, Miami, LSU, Stanford, Illinois, Cincinnati, Wake Forest, USC and UCLA."

What's his status at this time?

"North Carolina is still at the top, but I'm sitting around and looking at everybody," he said. "North Carolina is up there because their coaches are nice and they make you feel like you're part of everything. They treat you like everybody else and they don't treat you differently. They also care about education. The campus is very nice as well."

With recruiting still rolling, Russell is looking for a few things in his future home.

"Mostly I want to go where I can play and get an education. I think I want to do something like music."

The Carolina prospect earned all-conference and all-state honors after rushing for 1,870-yards and 27 touchdowns and posting 136 tackles, two interceptions and four sacks as a junior.

"I feel I did well," he said. "We finished 9-2 on the season and made the playoffs.

"I improved. My physicality was better and I was even more of a leader."