Fred Russell (American football)

Russell played high school football at Romulus High School in Romulus, Michigan. He rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 85 touchdowns.[1]

Russell was the starting running back for the 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes football team that tied for the Big Ten Conference championship, played in the Orange Bowl, and was ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll. Russell rushed for 1,264 yards and nine touchdowns on 220 carries during the 2002 season.[2] At the end of the season, Russell was selected by Big Ten coaches as a first-team running back on the 2002 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[3]

In 2003, Russell was again the starting running back for an Iowa team that compiled a 10–3 record, defeated Florida in the Outback Bowl, and was ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll. Russell rushed for 1,355 yards and seven touchdowns on 282 carries during the 2003 season.[2] He was selected by both the coaches and media a second-team running back on the 2003 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

In the 2004 Outback Bowl, Russell's final game for Iowa, he rushed for 150 yards, scored a touchdown, and was named the game's most valuable player in a 37-17 victory over Florida.[4] He was also named the most valuable player in the 2004 Hula Bowl.[5]

At the end of his college career, and despite receiving significant playing time in only two seasons, Russell ranked third on the Iowa career rushing list.[6] He also had two of the top five single-season rushing totals in Iowa history.[4]

In 2004, Russell was part of the St. Louis Rams' practice squad.[7] In 2007, Russell signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was released on July 3, 2007.