Notre Dame Football All-Decade Team: Cornerback

Keivarae Russell (2012-2015)

He came to Notre Dame as a projected athlete, seen as most likely a running back, but was quickly moved to corner starting, all 13 games on Notre Dame’s National Championship runner-up team in 2012. Russell was named a first team freshman All-American for his efforts — picking off 2 passes and totaling 58 tackles that season. While his sophomore season wasn’t the encore many fans expected, Russell was still quite effective with 51 tackles, 1 interception and 8 PBUs.

Unfortunately, he would be suspended for his junior season for academic misconduct and many people thought he would then transfer from the university.

Good thing he didn’t, because he would come back in 2015 and take over the starting position he lost. As a senior, he would total 60 tackles and again pick off 2 passes for 5 total in three seasons. Russell also added 4 PBUs and 2 forced fumbles.

As a traditional cover corner, Russell didn’t put up the tackles or tackles for loss stats that Blanton and Jackson did throughout their college careers, but Russell was sticky in coverage and had NFL speed and easy athletic fluidity that NFL teams covet. He ended up a third round draft choice by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, but surprisingly cut. The next day he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals where he remained for 3 seasons. With the Bengals, he appeared in 20 games, starting only 1 game and intercepting 1 pass.

He was waived by the Bengals during roster cuts this past year, and signed with the Chargers practice squad, but was released close to season’s end.