Russ Weil Leaves No Doubt

Questions were asked and eyebrows were raised when Minooka, Illinois linebacker/fullback Russ Weil verbally committed to Illinois in May. Weil left no doubt this past Saturday that he belongs on the big stage of college football.

Russ Weil, a 6-foot, 225-pound fullback/linebacker gave the University of Illinois his verbal commitment in May. Weil is a state champion wrestler but the jury was out on whether or not Russ could play college football at the Big Ten level.

After this past Saturday’s performance against Bolingbrook High School, there’s no doubt in my mind or anyone else in attendance for that matter that Weil very much belongs with the big boys.

Weil brings his same warrior mentality that he uses on the wrestling mat to the gridiron. Russ was a work-horse for the Indians and never came off the field.

On defense, Weil was all over the field making big hits and I mean big hits, he leveled All-American linebacker/fullback Kyle Williams on several occasions.



On offense, Weil was the bell-cow. He used his tremendous balance and strength to gain yardage when there was none to be had and he also used his speed to score the only touchdown for Minooka.

Weil is a throwback football player that is going to make the Illini fans proud. During one point in Saturday’s game, Russ came to the sideline with what looked like a broken hand.

A hand that looked like the size of a 16-inch softball was taped up and Weil ran back on the field with the same intensity that he showed for four quarters. He never missed a beat.

I feel Russ Weil is going to be a very good football fullback for Illinois but he could end up as a linebacker also. He reminds me of a faster and quicker Josh Tischer.