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DE Qua Russaw (Official Thread)

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billmac91 said:
Not to be a downer but he was a package deal with Smith. I’m not sure he gets the offer otherwise, but hopefully he can be solid depth at DE. I hope he makes me eat my words….
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IDK, but he sounds like a "keeper" to me; actually he kind of sounds like what CJ Hicks might of been had he stayed (i.e. hybrid edge/linebacker):

The Alabama native enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, racking up 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions while playing Wolf, a hybrid edge/linebacker role in the Crimson Tide's 4-2-5 defense, similar to the "Jack" position Jim Knowles deployed early in his Ohio State tenure. He brings an interesting athletic profile to the defensive end position with the Buckeyes, a chess piece that defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could use as a stand-up edge player who can drop into coverage for some unique schemes, as the Buckeyes' defensive ends did in a more limited capacity in 2025.

Speaking of 2025, Russaw saw his role diminish in Alabama's defense this past season. He played 45 snaps in the Tide's first game, 19 snaps in their second and 41 in their third before breaking his foot in game four and missing seven weeks. After returning for Alabama's 11th game of the season, he never reached 30 snaps in a game. He finished the season with 14 tackles and one sack.

Back healthy, Russaw can be a versatile weapon for Ohio State if he taps back into his five-star potential as in 2024.
 
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ScriptOhio said:
IDK, but he sounds like a "keeper" to me; actually he kind of sounds like what CJ Hicks might of been had he stayed (i.e. hybrid edge/linebacker):

The Alabama native enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, racking up 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions while playing Wolf, a hybrid edge/linebacker role in the Crimson Tide's 4-2-5 defense, similar to the "Jack" position Jim Knowles deployed early in his Ohio State tenure. He brings an interesting athletic profile to the defensive end position with the Buckeyes, a chess piece that defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could use as a stand-up edge player who can drop into coverage for some unique schemes, as the Buckeyes' defensive ends did in a more limited capacity in 2025.

Speaking of 2025, Russaw saw his role diminish in Alabama's defense this past season. He played 45 snaps in the Tide's first game, 19 snaps in their second and 41 in their third before breaking his foot in game four and missing seven weeks. After returning for Alabama's 11th game of the season, he never reached 30 snaps in a game. He finished the season with 14 tackles and one sack.

Back healthy, Russaw can be a versatile weapon for Ohio State if he taps back into his five-star potential as in 2024.
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I was thinking of Hicks immediately. He’s what the defensive staff hoped Hicks would’ve been by now, but no one knew how to use him, and he never Had a defined position until this year. Russaw was also A former 5star who could develop into a solid SDE. But like @billmac91 said, the real prize was Smith
 
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I know people are going to look down on the lack of proven production. But I think this is the kind of guy who still has a ton of raw talent that might finally come together with a scenery change and playing under Patricia.

At minimum he will be a guy who's effective at standing ground when rotating in. Even if the sack numbers aren't there he seems to be a guy who's good at setting the edge.
 
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