Tyler Russell profile
"Tyler will be in Maroon next fall," said an emphatic Craig Russell. "I would sign that right now if I could. If I had the papers here in front of me, we would all go ahead and sign. We're going to be at Mississippi State."
Craig felt that once Tyler made his decision that speculation about his college destination would end.
"Any rumors about Tyler looking at other schools is nothing. That's just somebody making something up," said Russell. "Nobody has even talked to us about any of that. We aren't even talking to any other schools."
Tyler is the oldest child in the Russell family. He will be the first to leave the nest. While Craig is excited about Tyler playing in the SEC, he admits it will be tough to let him move out on his own.
"It's going to be difficult," said Craig. "He's our first born and you want him to stay as long as he can. He'll be close to home, so that helps. He's going to a good coach that will help him become a man and not just a football player. That's one of the main reasons we all like Coach Croom."
Before Tyler is issued a Bulldog jersey, he has some work to do in a Wildcat jersey at Meridian High. The talk around town is that the 'Cats could bring home a state title.
"I think they have all been real laid back about all of that," said Russell. "We've been a little slow starting in the first half for some reason, but they've done okay.
"I tell him to just take one game at a time. Our goal is Jackson, but we're not going to overlook anybody. We are trying to get through one Friday night before we look at the next one."
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