Marist RB picks up first offer

Atlanta (Ga.) Marist is known for producing great high school football teams and excellent academic students. Following in the footsteps of the Marist tradition is running back Anderson Russell. Russell is a big, bruising back, who recently picked up his first scholarship offer.

“I got my first offer this month from Duke,” Russell said. “I was real excited to get it because Duke is a great school. I’m getting a lot of interest from some other SEC and ACC schools too. Maryland and Georgia Tech are pretty close to offering too I think.”

At the NIKE camp at Georgia Tech earlier this month Russell measured in at 6-foot-0, 194 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds.

“I was disappointed in my forty time at the NIKE camp, but overall I think that I did really well,” Russell said. “It was a good camp to go and see just how legit I was. I think I proved to myself and all the college coaches that were there that I can play on the next level.”

As a junior Russell rushed for 573 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had four touchdowns receiving.

“Right now my favorite schools are Duke, Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Maryland and Georgia Tech,” Russell said. “I don’t really have a favorite I think they are all pretty even. I might say that Duke is a little bit in the lead because they have offered.”

Russell plans to camp at Clemson, Auburn, Alabama and possibly a few others over the summer. There could be another reason that Russell likes Duke so much.

“Two of my teammates last year Matt Rumsey and Chris Davis signed with Duke and they have been talking to me about Duke a lot lately," Russell said. "The fact that they are there and I would know someone is appealing. I think it is always appealing to be able to go and play with your former teammates again, but I have to make the decision that is best for me.”